Coronavirus: Latest updates and tips

By The Understood Team

Expert reviewed by Amanda Morin

The coronavirus pandemic impacts everyone. But it creates added challenges for some people. That includes kids and adults with learning differences or disabilities. We’ve created this COVID-19 resource to help people who learn and think differently thrive at home, at school, and at work.

We’ll be providing updates on issues that impact learning, special education, talking with kids, and working from home. So keep checking back.

To stay informed on the health aspects of the virus, you can get updates at the Centers for Disease Control website. Your state health department and school district may be other good resources. So is the American Academy of Pediatrics.

How to talk about the coronavirus with kids

It’s natural for kids to have questions and concerns about the coronavirus. But kids who learn and think differently may have challenges that make it harder to understand or cope with this health crisis. Get tips for talking about the coronavirus with kids.

Here’s how to handle specific issues that may come up:

School closings and distance learning

Many schools are closed for the rest of the year, and families and educators are looking for ways to make the most of distance learning. Understood remains focused on supporting the 1 in 5 who learn and think differently. But with so many students struggling to adjust, Understood’s Amanda Morin points out that every child is the 1 in 5 right now.

The following are especially geared toward educators:

These resources can help teachers support emotional health during distance learning:

At-home activities, schedules, and more

If kids have to stay home or activities are canceled because of the virus, it can be hard to find ways to keep them busy.

How families are coping

Families have been through so many changes these past few months. Learning from home. Working from home. New routines or maybe no routines. Explore stories about how families are coping.

New community groups and partner sites

Understood just launched two new communities. Privacy settings for the groups mean that only members can see who’s in the group and what they post.

Understood is also proud to partner with three new coalition sites that are providing free resources to help transition to online and at-home learning:

Disability issues at work

The current health crisis may raise workplace questions when it comes to employees with disabilities.

The following are especially geared toward employees and job seekers:

The following are especially geared toward employers:

About the author

About the author

The Understood Team is made up of passionate writers and editors. Many of them have kids who learn and think differently.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Amanda Morin is the author of “The Everything Parent’s Guide to Special Education” and the former director of thought leadership at Understood. As an expert and writer, she helped build Understood from its earliest days. 

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