Virginia

COVID-19 Support Web Page

Summary: This web page provides information on how students, families, and educators can access accessible instructional materials during COVID-19. Resources include a workshop on making Chromebooks accessible, links to discounted and free internet providers in Virginia and links for converting worksheets into accessible formats.

Operated by: Virginia Department of Education’s AIM-VA Program

Topic: Assistive Technology, Distance Learning

COVID-19 Web Page

Summary: This web page provides resources to help parents and students with disabilities continue advancing transition goals during COVID-19. It includes publications, online courses and links to other resources, and it covers topics such as increasing independent living skills, getting ready for college and promoting internet safety for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Operated by: Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center on Transition Innovations

Topic: Assistive Technology, Distance Learning, Family Engagement, Transition

COVID-19 Webpage

Summary: This webpage includes resources for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their family members to help them understand and navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and the return to school. It includes videos, visual supports, infographics and information packets.

Operated by: VCU Autism Center for Excellence

Topic: Family Engagement

Instructional Resources Supporting Students with Disabilities

Summary: This repository of resources was compiled to help school divisions meet the continuing learning needs of their students with disabilities during COVID-19 school closures. It includes sections with instructional resources on assistive technology and social-emotional learning and includes a link to a transitions resource.

Operated by: Virginia Department of Education

Topic: Assistive Technology, Distance Learning, Transition 

Recover, Redesign, Restart: A comprehensive plan that moves Virginia Learners and Educators Forward

Summary: This document provides guidance, technical support, best practices and alternate solutions to school districts and educators for serving students amid COVID. The document emphasizes the importance of focusing on vulnerable students, including those with disabilities, and it includes a section relating specifically to students with disabilities. 

Operated by: Virginia Department of Education

Topic: Distance Learning

School Re-Opening 2020-2021: Planning for Students with Disabilities

Summary: This presentation, coming from the Assistant Superintendent of the Department of Special Education and Student Services, helps families and educators understand what to expect from school re-openings

Operated by: Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services, Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, and The Arc of Virginia 

Topic: Distance Learning, Family Engagement

Social-Emotional Wellness Considerations for Students with Disabilities

Summary: This document provides guidance and links to resources to help professionals working with students with disabilities support the social-emotional needs of their students. While this guide is not specific to COVID-19, it has been linked on the COVID-19 web page.

Operated by: Virginia Department of Education

Topic: Mental Health

Special Education and Student Services (SESS) Frequently Asked Questions

Summary: This web page answers a variety of questions regarding the continuation of special education services during distance learning. Specifically, it focuses on different special education considerations for virtual or hybrid learning, virtual learning resources for students with disabilities and their families, IEP team virtual meeting requirements and potential compensatory services that schools may provide to assist students with disabilities.

Operated by: Virginia Department of Education

Topic: Distance Learning

Special Education Students After COVID-19 Key Considerations

Summary: This document lists potential challenges that schools may encounter after COVID-19, regarding special education students, and strategies for mitigating those challenges. Topics include assessment, instruction, safety, behavior and social/emotional issues, medical needs and family engagement.

Operated by: Virginia Department of Education

Topic: Distance Learning, Family Engagement, IEP

Sustaining Inclusive Practices for Virtual Learning for Students with Disabilities

Summary: This document offers guidance, suggestions and resources for sustaining inclusionary practices for students with disabilities through continuous learning opportunities using a virtual platform. It includes links to resources from Virginia as well as other states, and includes links pertaining to transferring and accessing assistive technology.

Operated by: Virginia Department of Education

Topic: Assistive Technology, Distance Learning

VDOE Considerations for COVID Recovery Services for Students with Disabilities

Summary: This document highlights information related to compliance, documentation and progress monitoring, and IEP Team considerations that are necessary in order to make decisions about and address requests for COVID-19 recovery services for students with disabilities.

Operated by: Virginia Department of Education

Topic: Distance Learning, IEP

VDOE Special Education and Student Services Frequently Asked Questions

Summary: This web page provides updated guidance for school divisions as they reopen schools for instruction during the 2020-2021 academic year. It includes information on IEP meetings and telehealth billing.

Operated by: Virginia Department of Education

Topic: Distance Learning, IEP, Telehealth

Virtual IEP Meeting Tip Sheets

Summary: Virginia shares a resource regarding how to hold and participate in virtual IEP meetings. This ensures students are not left behind in their IEP during distance learning.

Operated by: Virginia Department of Education

Topic: IEP

What Families of Students with Disabilities Need to Know During COVID-19 School Closure

Summary: This one-page document outlines nine tips and considerations for families of students with disabilities to help them navigate school closures and interactions with their child’s IEP team.

Operated by: Virginia Department of Education

Topic: Family Engagement, IEP

Workplace Readiness Toolkit – Practicing Employment Skills at Home

Summary: This toolkit includes weekly activities to reinforce workplace readiness skills that have already been taught at school. Each activity sheet focuses on one specific workplace readiness skill that can easily be practiced at home, supplemented with technology, and varied with modifications to meet the needs of all students. While this resource does not mention COVID-19 specifically, it was created in August 2020 (likely in reaction to COVID-19).

Operated by: VCU Center on Transition Innovations

Topic: Transition

Returning to School: Planning Equity Audit

Summary: Among other things, this document lists requirements for schools engaging with the families of special education students upon returning to in-person instruction. These requirements include providing educational resources directly to families, providing mental health resources for both families and students with disabilities, engaging staff in family engagement training, and so on.

Operated by: Virginia Department of Education

Topic: Family Engagement, Mental Health