The Latest
Guidance

California Coronavirus (COVID-19) in California
 https://covid19.ca.gov/

The Center for Disease Control
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Riverside County Public Health
https://rivcoph.org/coronavirus

San Bernardino County Public Health
http://wp.sbcounty.gov/dph/

California Disability-Senior Community Action Network (Marty Omoto) sends out up-to-date reporting on legislative and policy news. To sign up for these emails, contact Marty Omoto at martyomoto@att.net

For a list of all orders pertaining to the Regional Center System, visit the California Department of Developmental Service page, https://www.dds.ca.gov/corona-virus-information-and-resources/

https://www.dor.ca.gov/Home/COVID19FAQ

Rights of People who get IHSS and Caregivers – https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/post/coronavirus-rights-of-people-who-get-ihss-and-caregivers

  • March 21 – A new fact sheet provided by the United States Department of Education was issued with guidance to schools advising “ensuring compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act should not prevent any school from offering educational programs through distance instruction.” To help schools provide distance learning in compliance with federal law, this fact sheet explains: The Department recognizes that exceptional circumstances may affect how special education and related services and supports are provided to students with disabilities, and the Department will offer flexibility.School districts must provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities, and the provision of FAPE may include, as appropriate, special education and related services that can be provided via computer, internet, or phone. Although online learning must be accessible to students with disabilities, federal law does not mandate the specific methodologies by which distance education must be provided.In instances where technology is not accessible or where educational materials are not available in an accessible format, educators may still meet their legal obligations by providing equally effective alternate access to the curriculum or services provided to other students.March 17, 2020 – Gov suspends standardized testing and relaxing some of the time lines related to special education and uniform complaints https://f3law.com/downloads/20-03%20Timelines%20Relaxed%20for%20Spec%20Ed%20and%20Uniform%20Complaints.pdfThe California Department of Education will issue updates to this guidance and others every Friday, in addition to issuing new and updated guidance as the need arises.March 14, 2020 – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON PROVIDING SERVICES TO CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES DURING THE CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 OUTBREAK – March 2020, US Department of Education – https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/qa-covid-19-03-12-2020.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3XuxiYs5H_VPaYh4KpUf43SaBn2ryQbttWBrdjEp-cZRoKiP4XtPcV6hI

The Autism Society Inland Empire is pleased to announce guidance issued May 4, 2020 by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) now allows for a support person to accompany a person with a disability when that person is hospitalized. The All-Facilities letter can be read here. The Autism Society Inland Empire worked with our advocacy partners California to advocate for this critical new guidance. The new guidance states: “The presence of a support person is essential to patients with physical, intellectual, and/or developmental disabilities and patients with cognitive impairments. CDPH recommends that one support person be allowed to be present with the patient when medically necessary. For hospitalized patients, especially with prolonged hospitalization, the patient or family/patient representative may designate two support people, but only one support person may be present at a time. All support persons must stay in the room and be asymptomatic for COVID-19 and not be a suspected or recently confirmed case. Support persons may be screened prior to entering the clinical areas. Support persons must comply with any health facility instructions on personal protective equipment. Additionally, CDPH strongly encourages facilities, including but not limited to skilled nursing facilities, to create ways for residents and patients to have frequent video and phone call visits. If shared devices are used for video calls facilities should ensure appropriate infection control measures are in place.”

Autism Society Options Policy

This Resource Guide was developed to provide families and professionals with an opportunity to find resources related to autism in the Inland Empire in one place.

All information provided or published by the Autism Society Inland Empire is for information purposes only. Specific treatment, therapy or services should be provided to an individual only at the direction of the individual’s doctor, caregiver, or other qualified professional. References to any treatment or therapy option, program, service, or treatment provider are not an endorsement by the Autism Society. References of treatments, therapies, programs, services, and/or providers are not intended to be comprehensive statements. You should investigate alternatives that may be more appropriate for a specific individual. The Autism Society assumes no responsibility for the use made of any information published or provided. The Autism Society Inland Empire provides information, but it does not constitute medical or legal information. Referrals provided are suggestions to organizations that might help, but do not constitute a recommendation. The Autism Society Inland Empire cannot be held responsible for consequences that arise from individual dealings with a professional or organization. The inclusion of any organization does not imply endorsement, and omission does not imply disapproval. The Autism Society Inland Empire may add or remove organizations from this list at its discretion.