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The Impact of COVID-19 on Families
COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus, has impacted us in many ways. Financially; there are millions of people unemployed due to the impact of this virus. Mentally and emotionally; individuals have isolated themselves due to stay-at-home orders, only going out for the essentials to places such as...
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Unmasking New Opportunities Through Virtual Learning
The COVID-19 crisis has forced us to face many new challenges while we rethink our ways of teaching and connecting to our students. Despite the difficulties of distance learning and the inability to physically interact with our students, this experience has opened many new doors and has inspired us...
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How Spectrum Designs Foundation Pivoted to Support First Responders and Healthcare Providers
Six or so weeks ago, when the COVID-19 crisis ramped up and then effectively halted life as we know it, the team at Spectrum Designs Foundation was on schedule to break previous sales records, offer more individuals with Autism paid employment opportunities and open the doors to our anticipated new...
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How We’ve Always Done It
I remember the day exactly. It was an unspectacular Sunday and I was headed to the last job I would ever take working for somebody else. It was a low-paying, hourly, management position for an animal nonprofit and just about the only benefit of the job was that I was in charge of making the...
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Mobilizing to Maintain Continuity of the Yes She Can Training Program
Yes She Can provides a job skills training program for young women with autism and related social and learning disabilities. The program is implemented at Girl AGain boutique where clinical professionals and business managers coach trainees in all aspects of running the business. It has been a...
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What Do Change in Schedules, Virtual Meetings, and Face Masks Have in Common?
The Coronavirus pandemic has disrupted daily life for almost every person around the world; especially daily routines. Routines are a good thing, since the predictability can be comforting. For many, changes to routines are frustrating; but are usually seen as positive, creating novel changes. But...
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Using Telehealth to Create a Virtual Community for Adults with Autism
During March 2020, many community-based programs for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) needed to make the difficult decision to suspend in-person services for the safety of all stakeholders. The unexpected interruption in daily operations led to an immediate concern for the overall quality...
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Understanding and Mitigating Challenges Faced by the Healthcare System when Treating Children with ASD and Problem Behavior
Meeting the healthcare needs of the heterogeneous population of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) poses a unique set of difficulties for an already burdened healthcare system during a pandemic such as the current COVID-19 crisis. Children with ASD experience the same childhood illnesses...
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Cover Up for Safety! Suggestions for Mask Toleration for Individuals with ASD
During this difficult and unpredictable time, everyone is faced with new challenges. These challenges may be exacerbated for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). School and daycare closures and a decrease in employment, among other changes, have caused a significant disruption to daily...
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Maximizing Virtual Visits to Maintain Essential Touchpoints in Autism Care
The Coronavirus Pandemic brings much uncertainty to our lives but one constant remains: access to your medical teams. While it is critical to socially distance and stay healthy and safe, medical teams around the world are adapting and meeting the challenge to care for people through...
