COVID-19 Resources

UCLA CART understands the ongoing concerns surrounding COVID-19, and the added challenges it brings to the autism community. We have compiled up-to-date resources, approved by leading clinicians and designed to help you feel informed and empowered. We will continue to update this list.


CART Resources and Videos – Informational guides and videos on a variety of topics by our leading team of clinicians to help you through this difficult time.


COVID-19 and Angelman Syndrome


COVID-19 and Autism

  • Autism Science Foundation – Resource guide for autism and COVID-19, including managing your child’s education and free time, handling your autistic child’s co-morbid conditions during the crisis, Medicaid rules, waivers, and changes, and general information.
  • Autism Science Foundation – COVID-19 Information by and for people with disabilities.
  • Autism Science Foundation – Use of Emergency Department during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
  • Autism Society – COVID-19 toolkit with information and resources for the autism community, including: mental health and respite, modifying routines, lifestyle supports, education, and public policy. Autism Society will host Facebook Live COVID-19 information sessions.
  • Autism Society North Carolina – Guide to autism-specific resources, including supporting individuals, general information about COVID-19, handwashing, and COVID-19 information for people with disabilities. Spanish resources available.
  • Autism Speaks – How to cope with disrupted family routines during COVID-19.
  • Autism Speaks – How to cope with disrupted personal routines during COVID-19.
  • Autism Speaks – How handle school closures and services for your child with autism.
  • Autism Speaks – What should the autism community know about the coronavirus outbreak?
  • Autism Speaks – Working from home: developing a new routine for adults with ASD.
  • Child Mind Institute - Toolkit including daily tips, coping techniques, managing anxiety, disciplining and behavior.
  • National Autism Association – Articles for parents, caregivers, and teaching tools, including ways to talk to a child with autism about a global health crisis, ways to attempt to maintain their normal routine, and how to create a sensory room.
  • National Council on Severe Autism – Information for individuals, families, and caregivers affected by serve forms of autism and related disorders, including activities and tips for coop-ed up autism families, and preventing and managing sever autism behaviors at home.
  • The Mighty – How to support kids with communication disabilities while school Is canceled.
  • The Mighty – How we can help children with disabilities understand the coronavirus
  • The Mighty – What to do when your child on the autism spectrum’s routine is disrupted by the coronavirus.
  • Psychology Today – How to explain a global health crisis to children with autism
  • University California Santa Barbra (UCSB) – Free online training in Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) for families of young children (12 to 48 months) with a diagnosis of ASD and who have concerns about their child’s language development. The research study involves a 6-week online course to help parents improve their child’s language and social skills.
  • University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism & Relations Disabilities – Resource guide for families, educators, and providers working with individuals who have developmental disabilities. Resources includes posters, videos, guides, and tips for talking with children.
  • UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute Autism Team – Packet about supporting individuals with autism through uncertain times. Packet contains content, strategies, and resources related to supporting individuals with autism.
  • Purdue University Global - Teletherapy: ABA Therapy in the Age of COVID-19
  • WTSP-TV – Video about COVID-19 and how to help children with autism adjust during self-isolation.

COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness - Resources to help families stay connected online

  • AT&T – is suspending the termination of wireless, home phone, or broadband service for customers who are unable to pay their bills due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus. The cable, phone, and media giant also is waiving late fees and providing free access to its public WI-FI hot spots.
  • CNET – Internet and wireless providers will waive late fees and keep Americans connected.
  • Comcast – is offering free access to its Xfinity Wi-Fi hot spots to anyone who needs them – including non-Xfinity internet subscribers – for 60 days. The company also is providing unlimited data to its customers during this period at no extra change, and is promising not to disconnect internet service or charge late fees for those who cannot pay their bills.
  • T-Mobile – is providing unlimited data to all customers who have plans with data for 60 days. The company also is providing additional data to mobile hot spot users.
  • USA Today – How utility, phone and internet companies are giving consumers a break during coronavirus pandemic.
  • Verizon – is waiving late fees and suspending service termination for customers negatively impacted by the global health crisis.

COVID-19 and Epilepsy


COVID-19 and TSC


General Information


General Information – Podcasts and Videos, and Webinars


Legal issues and Medicaid Rules, Waivers and Changes

  • Autism Science Foundation – Article on the many legal issues, including IEP issues, arising out of the COVDI-19 crisis.
  • Center for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) – Healthcare provider fact sheet, COVID-19 Emergency Declaration.
  • Center for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) – Press release about telehealth benefits in Medicare.
  • KFF – How can Medicaid enhance state capacity to respond to COVID-19?
  • UCLA School of Law – Guide includes local, state, and federal statutes, rules, or executive orders that address key areas of concerns, such as paid sick leave, coronavirus testing, summaries of longstanding state laws covering issues including quarantine, election emergencies, and price gouging.

Local Resources


Legal issues


Mental health

  • California Department of Health Care Services – Resources for emotional support and well-being, including information about testing, treatment, getting financial help, education, health care, housing and homelessness, workers, and more.
  • Center for Disease Control – Managing Anxiety and Stress
  • Greater Good in Action (UC Berkeley) – Research-based methods for a happier, more meaningful life. This guide includes practices and exercises for anyone who wants to improve his or her social and emotional well-being, or the well-being of others.
  • USC School of Dramatic Arts – Virtual Medical Clowns can perform virtually for patients around the globe to help alleviate pain and anxiety, build community, empower children, and greatly improve the hospital experience for patients who might be isolated at this time.
  • UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART) understands the ongoing concerns surrounding COVID-19, and the added challenges it brings to the autism community. They have compiled up-to-date resources, approved by leading clinicians and designed to help you feel informed and empowered.

Managing your child’s education and free time: Art

  • Elise Gravel – Free, printable coloring pages by children’s author and illustrator.
    http://elisegravel.com/en/livres/free-printables/
  • Google Arts & Culture – Guide to museums and galleries offering virtual exhibits and tours.
  • Khan Academy – Walt Disney Imagineering partners with Khan Academy for Imagineering in a Box. The program is designed to pull back the curtain to show you how artists, designers, and engineers work together to create theme parks. Go behind the scenes with Disney Imagineers and complete project-based exercise to design a theme park of your very own.
  • Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems – Children’s author, Mo Williams welcomes you into his study at home and guides you through drawing activities using one of his favorite characters for inspiration.
  • Louve – Visit the museum’s exhibition rooms and galleries.
  • Yaymaker Paint Nite – Virtual events from Paint Nite, including events for kids, teens, and adults. Events are presented through a streaming platform. Fees may apply.

Managing your child’s education and free time: Dance and Movement

  • ALDS Virtual WELLness – ALDS and Champ Camp have partnered to provide interactive virtual programs that are structured outlets for peer socialization. The WELLness programs provide interactive opportunities for physical activity, learning, and positive use of leisure time. Fees may apply.
  • American Ballet Theater – ABT will host daily virtual classes on their Instagram (@abtschool) taught by former ABT dancers and artist. These classes will engage ABT’s youngest students and their families by exploring musicality, fostering creativity, imagination, and teaching ballet fundamentals.
  • Go Noodle – Virtual classes to help children stay active, focused, and calm while ifusing good energy into their lives.
  • UCLA Recreation – Virtual yoga classes for kids on Tuesdays and Thursday afternoons.

Managing your child’s education and free time: Education

  • 123 Homeschooling – Homeschooling worksheets. Free.
  • All Kids Network! – Resources for children’s crafts, worksheets, coloring pages, mazes, dot-to-dot, and more. Free.
  • Amazing Educational Resources – Resource guide of educational companies offering free subscriptions due to the school closures.
  • ECHO Autism – Video providing teachers and other educators tools, strategies and resources to coach families in how to set up new learning routines while supporting positive behavior during home-based instructions provided by UC Davis MIND Institute and Partnering with Families.
  • Edgenuity – For K-12 students to access core curriculum. Each student has an individual code that will allow them to access lessons in English language arts and mathematics. Science and history/social science lessons are available for middle and high school students.
  • Highlights Kids – Online magazine with activities, games, recipes.
  • Kids Activities Blog – List of education companies offering free subscriptions due to school closing.
  • PBS SoCal, KCET, and PBS – Free, standards-aligned videos, interactives, lesson plans for at-home learning. Available for students in Pre-K through 12th grade.
  • LA Parent Magazine – Activities and information on remote learning for children and families.
  • Originator – List of educational mobile and tablet applications for children and families. Fees apply.
  • Scholastic Learn at Home – Allows open access to daily learning journeys divided into four grade spans: Pre-K – K, Grades 1-2, Grades 3-5, and Grades 6-9+, covering ELA, STEAM, science, social studies, and social-emotional learning. Free.
  • UCLA Bruin Tutor Network - Get free online homework help now for K-12 YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE who are attending LA COUNTY schools.
  • Universal Class – Classes to guide parents and teachers to build their own unit study courses for homeschool purposes. Free access with a Los Angeles Public Library card (which can now be obtained online).
  • Virtual School Activities – A collection of sites to live webcams, virtual tours/tips, and other miscellaneous fun educational sites for homeschooling.

Managing your child’s education and free time: Music

  • UCLA Recreation Summer Camps – Virtual music classes for babies and toddlers through Zoom. Zoom sign in instructions are listed in the flyer for Virtual Music Classes.

Managing your child’s education and free time: Outdoors and Animals

  • Center for Discovery – Safe indoor and outdoor activities for families in the time of the coronavirus.
  • Explore Mars from NASA – Explore the real surface of Mars, recorded by Nasa’s Curiosity rover.
  • Google Arts & Culture and National Parks – Google has teamed up with five national parks in the US so people can enjoy the beauty of the natural world virtually: Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska), Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii), Carlsbad Caverns National Park (New Mexico), Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah), Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida).
  • Los Angeles Zoo – Videos of animals.
    lazoo.org/
  • San Diego Zoo – Videos, activities, and games from the San Diego Zoo.
  • Smithsonian’s National Zoo – Animal webcams at the zoo.
  • Virtual Field Trips – Videos to explore the world, organized by curriculum, by grade, by location, for grades K to 12th.
    virtualfieldtrips.org/
  • Yellowstone National Park – Virtual tours of some of Yellowstone National Park’s main attractions around the park.

Managing your child’s education and free time: Reading

  • Audible – Free audiobooks for kids and teens.
  • LA County Library – Sign up for a Digital Library Card to get free access to all of the Library’s digital offerings, including ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, movies, TV, homework help, online classes, and more.
  • PBS Kids Read Along with Michelle Obama – Penguin Young Readers, Random House Children’s Books, and PBS Kids have launched “Mondays with Michelle Obama.” The former first lady will be hosting a series of online read-alongs for a month of Mondays starting April 20th.
  • Storytime at Los Angeles Public Library – Recorded storytime with the Los Angeles Public Library staff. There are also guided story time so that families can create their own version at home.
  • Tumblebook – An online collection of animated, talking picture books, which teach young children the joys of reading. Books available in seven different languages. Free trail available.

Managing your child’s education and free time: Technology

  • Scratch (MIT Media Lab) – Learn to code for ages 8-16, but used by people of all ages. Program your own interactive stories, games, and animation and share with others in the online community. Scratch helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively.
  • California Science Center – The Stuck at Home Science series offers easy to follow activities, designed for families to explore investigate, and learn together. All activities use easy to find household supplies, and are appropriate for a variety of ages.

Managing your child’s education and free time: Sports Games and Documentaries to Watch

  • Baseball – Baseball – A Film by Ken Burns.
  • Hockey – ‘Pause Binge’ replays of archived games.
  • Basketball – Free preview of NBA League Pass.
  • Football – Complementary access to Game Pass.

Managing your child’s education and free time: Theater

  • The Met Opera Stream – Each day, a different encore presentation from the company’s Live in HD series is being made available for free streaming.
  • Playbill – Guide of Broadway plays and musicals available to watch online.

Resources in Spanish