Early On COVID-19 Guidance & Resources

This recorded webinar for Part C Coordinators features Kathy Hebbeler of SRI International, and the ECTA and DaSy centers, and Naomi Younggren of the ECTA Center. Presenters review the purposes of evaluation and assessment, and considerations for policies and procedures related to determining eligibility remotely.

Pro-Ed's, publisher of the IDA, statement on Tele-Assessment.

The Michigan Department of Education Learning at a Distance Guidance. This document is a work in progress, a largely teacher-written effort to help address the immediate needs of staff who must address the immediate needs of children – at a distance – during a pandemic. 

Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan legislature have come to agreement on certain parameters regarding the upcoming school year. House Bills 5911, 5912, and 5913 were passed by the Senate on Saturday and the House of Representatives earlier today. Governor Whitmer is expected to sign them into law when they reach her desk.

This link is to the Early Childhood “Instructional Resources” on the MDE COVID-19 page. 

Guidelines for How to Restart In-Person Visits

Medicaid Bulletin MSA 20-15 discusses COVID-19 Response:  Behavioral Health Telepractice; Telephone (Audio Only) Services, and is issued on May 5, 2020.

This bulletin was sent to School-Based Services and Caring 4 Students Providers.

Medicaid Bulletin MSA 20-22 discusses COVID-19 Response: Telemedicine Policy Changes, Updates to Coverage for Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy, and is issued on May 5, 2020.

This webinar focused on policies and strategies for use by technical assistance providers and child care professionals to increase mindfulness and self-care.

This webinar features resources and practices to support infants, toddler, families, and teachers during times of national disasters.

Rescission of Executive Orders 2020-69 and 2020-96

On this webpage you will find a direct link to the U.S. Department of Education’s COVID-19 informational webpage, as well as several highlighted resources. There are also direct links to the National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI) and the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA). 

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services’ Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) released Questions and Answers (Q&A) documents in response to inquiries concerning the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C evaluation and assessment timelines in the current COVID-19 environment.

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), within the U.S. Department of Education’s (Department) Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, issues this Question and Answer (Q & A) document in response to inquiries concerning implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C provision of service in the current COVID-19 environment.

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services’ Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) released Questions and Answers (Q&A) documents in response to inquiries concerning the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C procedural safeguards in the current COVID-19 environment.

Part C Guidance on the bottom of page 5 of this document

On Monday, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services’ Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) uploaded two Questions and Answers (Q&A) documents to the U.S. Department of Education website in response to questions about implementation of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B and Part C dispute resolution procedures brought on by the effects of COVID-19 and school closures.

Many of the questions and answers around dispute resolution procedures are based on the logistical challenges of conducting business virtually. The Q&As provide informal guidance based on the U.S. Department of Education’s interpretation of current law and are not legally binding.

To view the Part B Q&A, go here.

To view the Part C Q&A, go here.

The video, An Illustration of Using the SS-OO-PP-RR Framework to Guide Home Visiting, illustrates an entire home visit delivered by Iowa early interventionist Jenny Seuntjens via video conferencing during the COVID-19 pandemic, with very little taken out. Running at around forty minutes, the video includes an introduction by Juliann Woods and annotations throughout that point out key strategies used by both the provider and the family.

Larry Edelman work on this video with Jenny, Grayson’s family, and the teams at Florida State University, Communication and Early Childhood Research and Practice Center; Iowa Department of Education Early ACCESS; and the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center at the FPG Child Development Institute, UNC-Chapel Hill.

Well-designed and thoughtfully executed online courses can effectively engage adult learners in high quality, engaging individual, small group, and whole group learning. This webinar will provide examples of how to develop and deliver content, support interaction including small group activities, promote reflection, and manage assignments as part of an online course.

This is an entertaining video that presents important tips for improving your video conferencing skills. The lighthearted narration and whimsical illustrations can help you identify key technical, environmental, and interactional aspects to keep in mind. Download the accompanying one-page checklist to assess your skills while watching the video.

While these resources are designed for Mental Health Consultants, there is helpful content worth review.

This link includes  nine infographics about how to get started with tele-intervention, quick tips, tele-coaching, and how to use natural learning environment practices via tele-intervention. 

This page has resources that can be shared with families about virtual visits, but also provide resources for providers to share with families about general child development topics.

This article has some practical tips for facilitating virtual meetings.

This website has short (1-1.5 hour) modules that guide families, administrators, and providers through how to provide services via telehealth. Some of it may be specific to speech and hearing, but it is a good general overview of how to conduct a virtual visit.

This webinar provides an overview of how to providing parent coaching via telehealth.

Links: Additional telehealth resources: https://psychology.psy.msu.edu/autism...

Manualized parent coaching programs for young children with ASD: https://psychology.psy.msu.edu/autism...

AFIRM Modules: https://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/

This document is geared toward providers and has a lot of information and the information provided is up-to-date and research-based.

The ECTA Center will serve as a hub for IDEA early childhood best practices and alternate models for providing early intervention and preschool special education and related services, including through distance services and supports. They will be collaborating with OSEP and other TA partners to provide the most current and relevant information via the new and growing page on the Coronavirus.

This page is updated on a daily basis with the latest guidance and information from state early childhood programs regarding tele-intervention, distance learning, and also state responses to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

In this video, early intervention practitioners from the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Ohio) share their experiences and advice about using video conferencing to deliver home visits.

A number of states are providing distance learning to young children with disabilities and their families. Here, we have compiled information on tele-intervention and distance learning, including funding, state guidance, technology and privacy, service delivery, activities for families at home, and research on effectiveness.

In Una visita en el hogar con la familia de Liam (A Home Visit with Liam's Family), Ohio occupational therapist Marta Gonzalez delivers an early intervention home visit during the COVID-19 pandemic. The video illustrates how home visits delivered through video conferencing can continue to support children and their families when in-person visits are not possible. The story is shared through insightful observations offered by Marta and Liam's mother, Yinna.