About COVID-19
- How to Talk to Your Kids About COVID-19
- A playlist of 20-second handwashing songs to prevent coronavirus
- Plain Language Information on Coronavirus
COVID-19 and Down syndrome
- Down syndrome organizations at the national level combined efforts to create this shared messaging and informative Q&A on COVID-19 and Down syndrome(updated 09/10/2021)
- The DSMIG (Down syndrome Medical Interest group)-USA released this vaccine position statement. Within this statement is also a survey that you can participate in if your loved one with Down syndrome has tested positive for COVID-19 as well as a General Q & A about Covid 19 from Global Down syndrome foundation.
Healthcare Access & COVID-19
- As always, we are advocating to protect the rights of you and your loved one with Down syndrome. Click here to learn more about your rights should your loved one with Down syndrome need to access healthcare.
- Fact Sheet on healthcare rights during the pandemic, including rationing care context
- Fact Sheet on hospital visitation rights
DODD’s Response to COVID-19
Families of children and adults with developmental disabilities face difficult situations and have hard decisions to make. Resources developed for families are designed to keep them informed and provide tools to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Social Stores – Social stories are visual representations that may help someone understand and better regulate their feelings and responses
- The best preventative strategy for COVID-19 is to avoid exposure. Click here to learn tips for families to protect you and your loved ones.
- COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions
- Family Connection: COVID-19 Updates
- DODD’s Statewide Support Teams Available for COVID-19 Response
- COVID-19 Resources and Support
- COVID-19 Financial Assistance Program
Food Support
- COVID-19 Resources for Franklin County Residents: Listings for Columbus-area soup kitchens and food pantries, places offering free lunches for school-aged children, school grab & go lunch programs, and grocery store adjusted hours.
- Children’s Hunger Alliance remains committed to helping feed children who are losing access to meals as a result of the coronavirus crisis. We are working closely with community partners to help fill the immediate needs of children in Ohio. Ready-to-eat meals will be distributed outside three Columbus Metropolitan Library branches during the library closures related to the coronavirus pandemic. Any child 18 and under will be able to pick up two meals to take home. Starting Monday, March 23, CHA will distribute ready-to-eat meals at the following library branches:
- CML Whitehall Branch, 4445 East Broad Street, Columbus, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- CML Barnett Branch, 3434 East Livingston Avenue, Columbus, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
- CML Northern Lights Branch, 4093 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Education Resources
- U.S. Department of Education Fact Sheet for Protecting Students’ Civil Rights During COVID-19 Response
- List of Education Companies offering FREE Subscriptions due to school closings
Fairfield County Resources
- Fairfield County Resource Update due to COVID-19
Somali Resources
- Checklist for Business and Employers
- Checklist for Families and Individuals
- Checklist for K-12
- Guidance for Faith-Based and Community Groups
- Household Checklist
Telehealth Services
Transportation Resources
- COTA transit services — fixed route, Mainstream and COTA//PLUS on-demand: Effective at 9:15am on Thursday, March 19, 2020:
- COTA will not be charging fare for transit during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Customers are to board vehicles from the rear entrance of transit vehicles
- (Except ADA/wheelchair service who will continue to use the ramp at the front door of fixed route)
- Customers are asked to continue practicing social distancing and sit at least one seat apart from other customers
- COTA implemented daily and hourly sanitization of vehicles two weeks ago and will continue this practice. Hand sanitizer stations are available on every vehicle.