Our Great Big List of COVID-19 Resources for Autistic People (Part 1)

Autistics United Canada and Autistics for Autistics Ontario have put together a list of COVID-19 resources for autistic people, which we will continue to update!

Disclaimer: We have compiled this list based on the utility of the resources, and do not necessarily endorse any particular group or organization we have shared from. Similarly, any group or organization sharing our own resource list does not mean we endorse or have collaborated with them. 

Download our full resource list (version 3):

• Word document
• PDF

Part 1 is resources specifically for autistic people. It includes:

• AAC resources and info
• Articles on coping with the pandemic
• Online meetup info
• Things to do while staying home / sheltering in place
• Resources on how to self-advocate in health care
• Resources for parents and caregivers of autistic people
• Financial aid
  
  

Part 2 is resources about the coronavirus / COVID-19. It includes:

• Plain language guides to COVID-19
• COVID-19 guides in non-English languages 
• Resources from federal and provincial / territorial governments 
• Virtual medical clinics in Canada
• Online / home activities
• Mutual aid
• Harm reduction
• Financial aid in Canada

Please note that since our groups are based in “Canada” on Turtle Island, we are using resources from governments within Canada. Some information, such as physical distancing / shelter-in-place guidelines, may be different in regions outside of Canada.

PART 1: Resources for Autistic People 

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Resources

Here are resources to help you understand what others are talking about and communicate your concerns to others using AAC.

Because of physical distancing, AAC users may be left without family members or other support people in a hospital. Be prepared: know what to expect at a hospital and your communication rights ahead of time.

• Advocacy toolkit for your support person to be with you in the hospital (ARCH Disability Law Centre) (version française)
  
• New communication boards for COVID-19:

●       Boardmaker Online
Coughdrop
●       Patient-Provider Communication (English)
●       ​Patient-Provider Communication (Bilingual - Arabic, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish)
●       Another CoughDrop communication board for COVID-19
●       Printable communication board for COVID-19 (TechOWL)

• Using AAC in the hospital:

●       COVID-19 Communication Rights Toolkit (Communication Disabilities Access Canada, adapted from materials by Communication First)
●       COVID-19 Communication Rights Toolkit (Communication First - English, Spanish, and Chinese) 
●       Using AAC in hospitals during the coronavirus
●       Patient Easy-Read Symbol Sheets 
●       Phrase-based communication aid to talk to doctors (SpeakProse)
●       Example communication page to handle invasive people (Mel Baggs)

• Keeping your AAC device clean during coronavirus

 
Autism COVID-19 Individual Health Action Plan

• English - downloadable fillable PDF
• Spanish - downloadable fillable PDF

●       Please note that priority groups for testing will be different for each province/territory. Visit your province/territory’s COVID-19 info website or contact a local health care provider to find out if you can be tested.
 
Coping with the Changes – Guides

• We are Heroes: A Plain Language Guide about Covid-19 (A4A Ontario)

●       Text version - HTML
●       With pictures - PDF

• Why is everything so weird (Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Lending Library)

 
Coping with the Changes - Articles

• Autism and Coping with Pandemic Stressors (Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism)
• The "Now, Next, Later" autistic-specific planning strategy (Jamie and Lion)

 
Online Hangouts for Neurodivergent People!

• Autistics United Canada is hosting online hangouts on Tuesdays and Saturdays

●       Join via computer web browser, phone app, or phone call
●       Find accessibility information and call-in details at our Facebook event
 
Other Online Meetups!

• Apocalypse Joy - Queer/Allied BIPOC Show and Tell Support Group
• Chronically Queer
  
• Co Make Do

 
Other Things to Do When Staying Home / Sheltering in Place

• Autistic UK's Self-Isolation Boredom Busters  - great list of ideas!

 
For Parents & Caregivers

• Homeschooling tips (Ed Wiley Autism Acceptance Lending Library)
  
• Supporting Neurodivergence Through the 2020 Pandemic (Foundations for Divergent Minds)

●       Foundations for Divergent Minds also has weekly discussions for caregivers and professionals and PDFs for activities to do at home on their Facebook page

• Education companies offering free subscriptions due to school closings
• Free live online classes to support public school families affected by closures in the wake of COVID-19 (Outschool)
• Giant List of Ideas for Being Home with Kids
• Why We Stay at Home: a free book on coronavirus for children of color
  

●       Read aloud YouTube video 
Financial Aid

• Autistic People of Colour Fund (Autistic Women & Non-Binary Network)

●       See Part 2 for Canada-specific financial aid.
​
Click here for PART 2: General COVID-19 Information

We will continue to update this resource list. Please let us know by emailing us at [email protected] if you have any resources to suggest, especially ones for neurodivergent & disabled people!