With schools closing throughout the state, virtual learning has emerged as the mainstay for educating California’s students. But, the barriers for distance learning, including having little or no experience with videoconferencing and the need for electronic devices and consistent access to the internet for typically developing children, quickly became apparent to parents, teachers and the school districts. And it is children with disabilities who have to overcome even more obstacles to learn. The big question remains: can your child with autism still get special education services during the COVID-19 pandemic?

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Parents are increasingly worried about how they are going to pay their bills as coronavirus COVID-19 forces businesses to close and millions of people lose their jobs. And if you are the parent of a child with special needs such as autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy or another disability, it’s even more stressful. Even with stimulus checks and unemployment insurance, these funds are temporary. If you lost your job or you can’t work because of COVID-19, you may qualify for other financial support so you can raise your child with special needs.

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California State’s In-Home Supportive Services program (IHSS) provides a helpful program to get financial support every month if you are the parent of a child with special needs such as autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy or another disability. And if you have lost your job during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and now take care of your child in quarantine, disability benefits such as IHSS and Protective Supervision allow you to be employed as your child’s in-home caretaker. But can you still apply for IHSS during COVID-19 quarantine?

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As a parent of a child who has autism, it is a common situation to struggle financially. There are health services to pay for, as well as therapies and equipment that are necessary for your child with special needs to lead a fulfilling life. And now due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), many parents have lost their full time jobs. But can you get financial help for your child with autism if you lost your job due to COVID-19?

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Breaks from your normal life can offer great opportunities for extra fun and relaxed downtime for you and your child with special needs. However, with the coronavirus COVID-19 national emergency dragging on for an untold amount of time, time off can also create challenges for all parents and children. Disruption in your daily routine and an increase in unstructured moments for your child may result in low levels of motivation and higher levels of anxiety and stress. For you as a parent of a child with a disability like autism, these may seem magnified. Below are some helpful tips to help you survive these days during quarantine with your child with special needs.

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