COVID-19 and Autism in NJ

NJ Department of Health

The DOH website offers information and useful links relating to COVID-19:

DOH COVID-19 Page

The New Jersey Early Intervention System:

Early Intervention services fall under DOH.  They have offered the following guidance and information.  We will update as new information becomes available.  

• NJEIS COVID Operational Update (3.17.2020)
• NJEIS Best Practices for Telehealth

NJ Department of Education

The Governor has ordered all schools closed beginning on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Schools will remain closed as long as the Governor’s Executive Order remains in effect.  With the profound affect this will have, we’re aiming to gain a greater understanding about the effect of school closings on special education services and advocate for all during this public health emergency.

We’ll share information, resources, and clarification as it becomes available.

• Tele-Education:
  • The NJ Department of Education has temporarily approved the use of telehealth for IEP mandated services
• Additional topics requiring clarification:
  • IEP Meetings
  • Mediation
  • Hearings
  • Compensatory Services
  • New Evals (for children turning 3)
  • Transition Services

NJ DOE COVID-19 Homepage

Special Ed    APSSD Info

US Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education has issued the following document that offers some additional information:

• Questions and Answers on Providing Services to Children with Disabilities During a COVID-19 Outbreak

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights issued a fact sheets aimed at ensuring that students’ civil rights are upheld while schools are closed due to COVID-19.

• Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Schools While Protecting the Civil Rights of Students (General)
• Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Schools While Serving Children with Disabilities

NJ Department of Children and Families

DCF offers some helpful links and resources on its website:

For Families    For DCF Contracted Providers

The following direct links may be of particular interest for providers:

• Guidance for Providers of Home and Community Based Services Operating Under Contract with the New Jersey Department of Children and Families  (March 24, 2020)
• Telehealth Guidance (DCF is instructing providers to use Department of Human Services Temporary Telehealth Guidelines)

NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities

DDD has called for the closure of day programs and the discontinuation of non-essential community outings.  The Division is working to address issues about service delivery and reimbursement.

DDD Coronavirus Updates
DDD’s COVID-19 updates for Individuals, Families and Providers are centrally-located on Department of Human Services COVID-19 webpage.

DDD COVID-19 Updates

Help Desk
A Help Desk has been established for you to submit questions related to these closures and to DDD’s response to the COVID-19 situation:  DDD.COVID-19@dhs.nj.gov.   Please do not submit health-related questions to this help desk, including questions about COVID-19 testing, treatment, etc. For health-related questions and concerns, please contact a health care professional or call 911.

DHS Press Release (3/18/20):  NJ Human Services Works to Protect & Help Maintain Continued Benefits for Residents Amid COVID-19 Outbreak

NJ Department of Banking & Insurance

DOBI has created the following information for those with questions about insurance.

COVID-19 & Health Insurance FAQs

NJ Medicaid

Governor Murphy announced administrative actions this week to waive consumer cost sharing for COVID-19 testing and testing-related services and enable NJ Medicaid beneficiaries to receive 90-day prescription refills for maintenance medications, in addition to a number of other steps.

Please see the Governor’s press release  for complete details, and the NJ Department of Human Services (DHS) Coronavirus webpage  for details specific to people served by DHS and its divisions and offices.

Social Security

The Social Security Administration has announced that all local Social Security offices will be closed to the public for in-person service starting Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Read their news release for additional information.

Federal Stimulus:  How will it affect your Social Security

The House Ways and Means Committee offers a fact sheet with information about the planned stimulus checks and Social Security:

Social Security and the CARES Act Fact Sheet

Two key takeaways:

• Like other tax credits, these payments do not count as income or resources for meanstested programs. So receiving a rebate will not interfere with someone’s eligibility for SSI, SNAP, Medicaid, ACA premium credits, TANF, housing assistance, or other income-related federal programs.
• Social Security beneficiaries and SSI recipients who did not file a tax return may need to take additional action, such as filing an abbreviated tax return, to receive a rebate. This process is still evolving, and IRS is posting specific guidance at www.irs.gov/coronavirus

Additional Ways and Means Committee COVID-19 Resources

Be Prepared:  Read our article COVID-19 and Autism:  How to Be Prepared in the event your loved one with autism develops COVID-19.

Hospital Visitation Policies for Individuals with Disabilities: Reasonable accommodations such as a support person, even during a pandemic, are civil rights. For more information, see Disability Rights New Jersey’s letter encouraging state policy to allow a support person.

Preventing Discrimination:  No individual with autism or another disability should feel they will be discriminated against in receiving care for COVID-19. Per the US Department of Health and Human Services:

“In light of the Public Health Emergency concerning the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is providing this bulletin to ensure that entities covered by civil rights authorities keep in mind their obligations under laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, and exercise of conscience and religion in HHS-funded programs.”

Additional Medical Treatment Resources

• COVID-19 and Special Needs — The American Academy of Developmental Medicine & Dentistry (AADMD)

Telehealth

We recognize that this is a complex issue for providers and patients alike. We are currently gathering information relating to telehealth, including links to carriers’ policies, to help you during this time.

Check out our Telehealth Guide

Legal/HR

• What Is An Employer To Do About Coronavirus? (Wilentz Attorneys at Law)
• Modifying Your Employees Work Schedule May Impact Their Health Insurance (Wilentz Attorneys at Law)
• Will Business Interruption Insurance Cover The Closure Of Your Business Due To COVID-19? (Wilentz Attorneys at Law)
• HHS Issues Section 1135 Waiver, and CMS Issues Blanket Waivers of Health Care Laws, in Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency (The National Law Review)

For BCBAs

• BACB COVID-19 Updates
• APBA Guidelines for Practicing Applied Behavior Analysis During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Central Reach is offering free CEs through April 30, 2020

Online Training Courses

The following courses may be of interest to those seeking additional training, introductory and advanced.

• Autism Partnership Foundation is now offering a FREE 40 hour RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) training. This 40 hour training is based on the 2nd edition task list and meets the requirements outlined by the BACB for individuals seeking their RBT certification.
• Relias is offering free training courses for Healthcare Professionals and Individuals.  Learn the basics of hygiene and infection control.
• Maximizing Parent Participation During Telehealth Services (ReThink)

Being stuck at home has drastically changed how treatment is delivered and is affecting individuals and families in many different ways.  Our staff offers the following articles with suggestions and reminders to guide you through this difficult time.

In-Home Suggestions for Parents

Severe Challenging Behavior

Our team has curated resources and tools that may be useful:

Homeschooling Resources      Useful Apps

More free resources and visual supports:

• Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times (University of North Carolina)
• Resources for Special Educators, Therapists, & Families (Curated via Smore.com)
• Coronavirus Social Story (The Autism Partnership of Easter Seals Chicago)
• We Wear Masks – A Social Story about the coronavirus (YouTube/Mike McGovern)
• Plain Language Booklet on COVID-19 (Available in English and Spanish) (Green Mountain Self Advocates)

You are not in this alone and we all need to remember to take care of ourselves.

Read our article about taking things Moment by Moment: Taking Care of Ourselves during Extreme Crises.

Mom2Mom | 877.914.6662– a NJ-based peer support helpline available Monday – Thursday 8:30am-8pm and Friday 8am-4pm.

Here are some more links that may be helpful:

• Coping with the Stress of the Global Challenges of Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Behavior Therapy Associates)
• Calm offers free resources for mindfulness and self care
• To Parents of Children With Disabilities Trying to Stay Safe During This Outbreak (The Mighty)
• Podcast:  Managing Children with Autism while Sheltering from COVID-19: Advice for Parents (Kessler Foundation)

We’ve collected a few resources for self-advocates looking to connect.

• Spectrum of South Jersey / A.S.P.E.N. (YASJ) is offering a daily check-in Zoom Meeting from 1 to 2pm for self-advocates looking to connect with others during this time. You can join their private Facebook Group or for call-in information, contact Meaghan at spectrumasj@gmail.com
• The Division-funded New Jersey Self-Advocacy Project announced a new webinar series for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), Stay Healthy at Home: Living Your Best Life During Quarantine. Webinars will be held every Tuesday in April, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Looking for something different? Alex Manners is a 23 year old living with Asperger’s in the UK.  He’s blogging daily during his quarantine on his YouTube Channel.

Share more resources with us!  Email information@autismnj.org

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development

The Department of Labor and Workforce Development administers benefits such as Earned Sick Leave, Temporary Disability and Family Leave Insurance,  policies that may be of interest. If information specific to special needs becomes available, we will share it here.

• NJDOL Benefits and the Coronavirus (COVID-19): What You Should Know

The site offers a helpful printable guide (in English and Spanish) to help determine your options.

Legislation addressing financial impact on families and businesses 

A number of bills were quickly introduced in the legislature focusing on addressing the financial hardships individuals and small business will likely experience due to loss of income and business disruption during this unprecedented health crisis. We’ll follow the legislation and post relevant information. Read Coronavirus Emergency Relief Assistance in NJ>>

On Friday, March 27, President Trump signed a $2 trillion legislative package, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) (S. 748). This act will provide more than substantial relief due to the current and projected impact that COVID-19 will have on the country.

What’s Inside The Senate’s $2 Trillion Coronavirus Aid Package (NPR)

As information becomes available about grants or private financial assistance for families, we will post it here. 

NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities is offering COVID-19 Emergency Funding Grants for families and providers, typically $250-500.

State of NJ COVID-19 Jobs and Hiring Portal

The State of New Jersey has developed a centralized resource to match talent with opportunities in industries on the front lines of serving New Jerseyans during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Did you lose your job or have your hours reduced as a result of COVID-19? Businesses across New Jersey need thousands of workers for immediate hire.

• Job Seekers:  To learn more about who is hiring in your community, visit the NJ COVID-19 JOBS AND HIRING PORTAL
• Employers:  Employers in critical industries (including those seeking DSPs) should submit information about openings with urgent hiring needs related to COVID-19 at https://jobs.covid19.nj.gov/intake.