COVID-19 Resources for Autistic People

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

Part 1 is resources specifically for autistic people, including AAC resources, coping guides & online hangouts!

Part 2 is general resources about COVID-19, including health care info in plain language & in multiple languages and financial aid info (Canada).

Part 1: Resources for Autistics

AAC Resources

• Communication boards for COVID-19:
  • Boardmaker Online
  • Coughdrop
  • Patient-Provider Communication (English)
  • Patient-Provider Communication (Bilingual – Arabic, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish)
• Using AAC in the hospital:
  • Using AAC in hospitals during the coronavirus
  • COVID-19 Communication Rights Toolkit (Communication Disabilities Access Canada, adapted from materials by Communication First)
  • Patient Easy-Read Symbol Sheets 
• Keeping your AAC device clean during coronavirus
• COVID-19 Communication Rights Toolkit (Communication First)

Coping with the Changes – Guides

• We are Heroes: A Plain Language Guide about Covid-19 (A4A Ontario)
  • Text version: a4aontario.com/2020/03/20/we-are-heroes-a-plain-language-guide-about
  • With pictures: a4aontario.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Covid_Guide_A4AOntario.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, via computer web browser, phone app, or phone call.
  • Find info at their 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!
• A4A will have an at-home guide soon!

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 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

Financial Aid

• Autistic People of Colour Fund (Autistic Women & Non-Binary Network)
• Relief Funding from the Government of Canada during the Covid crisis
• Covid 19 Social Supports, City of Toronto
• For provincial and territorial funding, see the fuller list in Part 2.
• Many town and city government websites have local information.

PART 2: General COVID-19 Information

Part 2 is a PDF. Please link here: Covid info_resource list_plain language-multilingual (Canada)