Coronavirus

The materials below include general information about the coronavirus, resources for people with autism and other disabilities, guidance on how to manage stress and anxiety related to COVID-19, and links to IACC member federal department and agency information. For the latest public health information on COVID-19 from the CDC and federal partners, please see https://www.coronavirus.gov.

General Information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Discover the latest news about COVID-19 and learn how to protect yourself and your family.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for COVID-19 Research The NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for COVID-19 Research provides a framework for expediting testing, therapies, and vaccines for COVID-19.

More General Information

Autism and Disability

Administration for Community Living (ACL)
- Webinar: Ensuring Continuity of HCBS During the COVID-19 Pandemic This webinar, hosted by the ACL and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), focused on best practices in continuing access to HCBS during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Simons Foundation/SPARK
- Impact of COVID 19 on Autistic Adults
  In the Spring of 2020, autistic adults reported significant disruptions to their social life and employment. Respondents also reported disruptions to their homelife, services or therapies, and financial security.

More Autism and Disability Resources

Mental Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Coping with Stress Learn how to manage stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Video: Five Things About Staying Mentally Healthy During the COVID-19 Outbreak Dr. Joshua Gordon, Director of NIMH, offers five steps you can follow to maintain your mental health and well-being during the novel coronavirus outbreak.

More Mental Health Resources

Federal Agency Websites

U.S. Department of Education (ED)
- COVID-19 ("Coronavirus") Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel This resource page provides links to information on new relief funds and initiatives as well as Department of Education resources for remote learning.
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
- Employment Resources for People on the Autism Spectrum In honor of Autism Awareness Month 2020, the DOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) developed lists of new and existing resources that can help workers on the autism spectrum, employers, service providers, and others during the pandemic.

More Federal Agency Websites

Reports

Autism Speaks
- COVID-19 and Autism: Impact on Needs, Health and Healthcare Costs
  March 2021
  This Special Report highlights the impact of COVID-19 on the autism community. The report analyses data collected from the Autism Response team, responses to needs assessment surveys, and data on private health insurance claims.
Macquarie University, The University of Sydney
- I Want to See My Friends: The Everyday Experiences of Autistic People and Their Families
  July 2020
  This report investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns on autistic people and their families in Australia. Investigators conducted in-depth interviews with 131 people over 115 hours. Participants reported feeling unsupported and felt online services and therapies were unsatisfactory. Autistic people discussed difficulties brought by social isolation and negative impacts on their mental health.

More Reports

Research Articles

Boyle CA, Fox MH, Havercamp SM, Zubler J. The public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic for people with disabilities. Disabil Health J. 2020 Jul;13(3):100943. doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2020.100943. Epub 2020 May 24. PMID: 32499132; PMCID: PMC7246015.
Bal VH, Wilkinson E, White LC, Law JK; SPARK Consortium, Feliciano P, Chung WK. Early Pandemic Experiences of Autistic Adults: Predictors of Psychological Distress. Autism Res. 2021 Feb 8. doi: 10.1002/aur.2480. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33559334.

Videos

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Office of National Autism Coordination
- The Federal Response to COVID-19: Addressing the Needs of the Autism and Disability Communities
  April 28, 2021
  This event featured presentations from the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, U.S. Department of Education, and U.S. Department of Labor on issues related to health, education, and employment for people with disabilities during the pandemic. Presentations were followed by discussions with leaders from the autism advocacy community.
Simons Foundation/SPARK
- Webinar: Autistic Adults and COVID-19
  March 24, 2021
  Vanessa Hus Bal, Ph.D, a psychologist from Rutgers University, discusses her recently published findings from a study on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected autistic adults enrolled in SPARK. She also answers questions about the study, as well as general questions about mental health and autism.