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What We’re Reading: March 30, 2020

March 30, 2020
U.S. Civil Rights Office Rejects Rationing Medical Care Based on Disability, Age | New York Times

Medical providers must not engage in “ruthless utilitarianism” in deciding who gets lifesaving treatment for the coronavirus, a federal civil rights officer warned.

Advocate for disabilities dies from COVID-19 complications | KPLC

April Dunn, chair of the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council, died from Coronavirus complications this weekend at the age of 33. Gov. John Bel Edwards announced her death in a statement, describing her as someone who, “brightened everyone’s day with her smile,” and “worked hard as an advocate for herself and other members of the disability community.”

An Aging America Faces Another Epidemic: Isolation | Forbes

My mother called last week. FaceTime had stopped working. What should she do? Reboot your iPhone, I wanted to say. But my mother is 96 and doesn’t know how to reboot anything. Plus, she’s hard of hearing. Phone conversations do not go well.

Dealing With Frustration: You Can’t Visit Your Aging Parents | Forbes

Social distancing is one thing. Most Americans are doing that much, as it appears from early data to be working to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. But not being able to visit your aging loved ones is something else. It brings fear and frustration. The family members of aging parents in hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living are all feeling it. Who will advocate for Grandma? Who will see to it that your elderly father is not left alone with nothing to do? Why can’t you spend time with him?

People With Disabilities Say Rationing Care Policies Violate Civil Rights | NPR

People with disabilities are asking the federal government to stop what they say are policies by states and hospitals that will ration care — and deny them treatment for the coronavirus.

On Monday, several disability groups filed a complaint against the state of Washington, one of the states hardest hit by the pandemic.

Education Dept. Says Disability Laws Shouldn't Get In The Way Of Online Learning | NPR

The vast majority of states have closed public schools in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and many districts are now faced with a dilemma: how to provide remote learning to students without running afoul of civil rights and disability laws.

Friday, April 24 is Children's Memorial Flag Day | CWLA

Now more than ever, the safety and security of our nation's children is paramount. CWLA's Children's Memorial Flag was created in honor of April’s National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Flown on the fourth Friday in April — on April 24 this year — the Children’s Memorial Flag honors each lost child and serves as a symbol for the protection of children and young people from all forms of violence. The flag raises public awareness about the continuing problem of violence against children.

Please join CWLA’s efforts to make children a national priority by helping to make every day a peaceful, healthy day for America’s children. The centerpiece is simple: a red flag depicting blue, paper-doll-like figures of children holding hands. In the center, the white chalk outline of a missing child symbolizes the children lost to violence.

Created by a 16-year-old student in Alameda County, California, the Children’s Memorial Flag honors each lost child and raises public awareness about the continuing problem of violence against children. Join the nearly 300 organizations, in over 100 cities, and participants in all 50 states that support Children’s Memorial Flag Day.

Fly your flag on April 24—or all month long—and support CWLA’s efforts to protect every child from violence and harm.

Shelter-in-Place Orders by State | Applied Self-Direction

This resource lists each state with state-wide Shelter-in-Place orders, the state’s current law and executive orders, and how the order affects homecare workers and Financial Management Services (FMS) in self-direction. Currently, the majority of states either directly exempt home-care workers or, at a minimum, assert that these orders are flexible and not designed to disrupt necessary care. For Financial Management Services (FMS), many states have specified that “necessary human services operations may remain in operation” which often includes payroll and other necessary services provided by FMS entities.

COVID-19 Specific information for Kids

  • Podcast: Brains On. Episodes "Staying home: How social distancing helps fight coronavirus" and "Understanding coronavirus and how germs spread."

Handwashing

Mental Health for Kids

  • YouTube: Cosmic kids yoga - "Owl and guard dog" anxiety discussion is linked here. Channel has lots of kids yoga videos that link to popular movies or kid friendly themes. Meditation skill building.
  • YouTube: Alo Yoga kids playlist. Yoga poses for kids (brave dino, puppy meditation,etc)
  • YouTube: Howard Wigglebottom Courage - Gently Animated story of facing fears and having courage. "Its okay to be scared." Channel has several videos addressing emotions
  • YouTube: New Horizon Meditation for kids. Audio only.- several scripts to choose from.
  • Book/YouTube: The Rabbit Listened - link to read aloud of book. Animals offer many unhelpful solutions to Taylor's problem. The rabbit listened. Written by Cori Doerrfeld
  • Book/YouTube: Grumpy Monkey - link to read aloud of the book. Monkey wakes up grumpy. "Shoulds" don't help him feel better. The companionship of a friend helps. Written by Suzanne Lang
  • Book/YouTube: My No No NO Day - link to read aloud of the book. Bella is having a hard day. She gets support and a chance for a better day tomorrow. Written by Rebecca Patterson
  • Book/YouTube: Quick as a Cricket- link to read aloud of the book. Animals represent many aspects of the same child. "Put them all together and you've got me." Written by Audrey Wood
  • App: Breathe Think Do. Help a Sesame Street monster calm down and solve everyday problems in this interactive game. (Free)
  • App: Ninjafocus. Meditation scripts. Yoga poses. Mindfulness activities. Sleep music. Bedtime Stories. (Offering all content free for 90 days due to closed schools)
  • App: Children's Meditations. Meditations for focus, relaxation, and sleep. (6 free scripts with option for in app purchases of additional content)
  • Class: Mindful Schools is offering mindfulness classes for kids free for the next few weeks! Join for mindful activities, mindful movement, read-alouds.

For at-home kiddos (and their parents)

Family Rhythm, Discipline, and Routine

  • Resource: Whole Family Rhythms offer free downloadable guides that are designed to help plan, create, and animate a peaceful, balanced, and holistic rhythm at home, flowing between structured, adult-led activities and child-led, imaginative free play.
  • YouTube: Sundays With Sarah - ideas for crafts, stories, finger plays, and parent tips for napping, discipline and other topics. Waldorf education.
  • Resource: Love and Logic Blog - Positive parenting and teaching techniques to build healthy relationships with kids.

Creating

  • YouTube: The Making Foundation - Roanoke-based woodworking shop that specializes in problem solving, empowerment, DIY, and working with kids. Daily #@makethemost videos/challenges for making at home during social distancing.
  • YouTube: Easy Kids Crafts: DIY kids craft videos with well-organized playlists for holidays and seasons
  • Resource: Mr. Printable - free printable games, crafts, and coloring pages

Science

  • Podcast: Smash. Boom. Best Smash Boom Best is a debate show for kids and families Every episode takes two cool things, smashes them together and lets you decide which is best. Cats versus Dogs. Pizza versus Tacos. Super Speed versus Super Strength.
  • Podcast: Brains On. Co-hosted each week by kid scientists and reporters from public radio, we ask questions ranging from the science behind sneezing to how to translate the purr of cats.
  • Podcast: Earth Rangers — A sound-rich dive into nature and animal science.

Stories

  • Podcast: Circle Round adapts carefully-selected folktales from around the world into sound- and music-rich radio plays for kids ages 4 to 10.
  • Podcast: Stories Podcast: fairy tales, folk tales, Peter Rabbit, original fiction for kids.
  • Podcast: Myths and Legends: Stories from around the world. Best for older kids. Warnings are given for disturbing content at the beginning of the show.
  • Podcast: “Story Pirates” — Stories written by kids are woven into a narrative about a musical-theater company’s magical misadventures.
  • Podcast: “Girl Tales” — Feminist fairy tales written and performed by playwrights and actors.

Music

  • Podcast:“The Music Box” — Each episode is a lesson about a musical concept featuring interactive activities.
  • Podcast: “Ear Snacks” — The children’s musicians Andrew & Polly explore different themes through songs and interviews.

 

The information and links provided here are a courtesy. The National Advisory Board does not necessarily endorse or share the views contained in any article, report or web site. No link provided here should be considered an endorsement of any opinion, product or service that may be offered in the article or at the linked-to site.

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