Everyone agrees if they had anyone to be in lockdown with it would be their spouse and children. Of course, after a week or two with that opinion may change from time to time as living in confined spaces takes its toll. This might be especially true for parents of special needs children. The additional needs could add compounded strain on the caregiver.

Break from Learning = Decline in Retention

While kids all over the nations are moving over to virtual class instruction. Kids with special needs may be missing out on several of their accommodations, tools and other supports. Breaks from learning can be detrimental to the retainment of what was learned.

While we will have to wait and see how the schools system meets the needs of special needs students there are strategies and resources that we found and listed below…

The “Four Ms” Strategy

Offering some relief for all children during this time are strategies for parents.  Listed on NY Metro Parents website in an interview with Louisa Benton, Executive Director of Hope for Depression Foundation recommends the “Four Ms” Strategy to cope in uncertain times, they are:

• Model Calm

Showing our kids that we take time to pause, breath deep, stretch and move into a state of calm is a great gift. One great example is to teach meditative walking where we tune into our senses, sharing with each other what we hear, feel, smell…you get the idea.

• Maintain Normalcy

Stick with their schedule. The schedule they had while in school will bring great comfort while dealing with the other big changes.

• Move

With some states moving into lockdown we are limited to things we can do during this pandemic. One of the best things we will find to do for both our kids and ourselves is to find time to move and get outside.

• Monitor news consumption

Or new consumption of handicaps. While news may bring too much negativity into the house, we could be consuming other things to calm our nerves and we need to be aware of that and choose healthier choices.

Some Resources

• “Explaining the coronavirus: The Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center has a plain-language guide, with pictures, on its website, “COVID-19 Information By and For People with Disabilities”: selfadvocacyinfo.org.
• Facebook: Many special-needs support organizations have private Facebook groups that are sharing ideas and activities for getting through this period.
• In Pennsylvania: KenCrest has a list of resources, from meal sites to emotional support, on its news and events page: kencrest.org/news-events.
• In New Jersey: The Jewish Abilities Alliance of the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey serves people with disabilities, regardless of faith: southjersey.jewishabilities.org,” as listed by inquirer.

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