Special needs care during COVID-19

These times are challenging and especially for families that have children with special healthcare needs.

PANDEMIC, CHILDRENAND YOUTH WITHSPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS MAY BEAT INCREASED RISKFOR COMPLICATIONSIF THEY GETINFECTED.

IF YOUHAVE A CHILD WITHSPECIAL HEALTHCARE NEEDS, LIKECHRONICCONDITIONS ORDISABILITIES THEREARE STEPS YOU CANTAKE TO KEEP YOURFAMILY SAFE DURINGTHE COVID-19OUTBREAK.INES DE LA CUETARAHAS THIS YOURHEALTH MATTERSREPORT.SCRIPT:THESE TIMES ARECHALLENGING--ESPECIALLY FOR FAMILIESTHAT HAVE CHILDRENWITH SPECIALHEALTH CARE NEEDS.HOWEVER, WITH THERIGHT PREPARATIONYOU CAN KEEP YOURCHILD, FAMILY ANDYOURSELF SAFE.EXPERTS FROM THEAMERICAN ACADEMYOF PEDIATRICSSUGGEST THAT FIRSTAND FOREMOST YOUSHOULD PREPAREYOUR HOME.

PUTSIGNS AROUND YOURHOME TO REMINDEVERYONE TO WASHTHEIR HANDS.

KEEPPLENTY OF HANDSOAP, TISSUES,WIPES, AND HANDSANITIZER ON HANDAND MAKE KITS ORHAND WASHINGSTATIONS IF NEEDEDTALK TO YOURPEDIATRICIANS OROTHER HEALTHCAREPROVIDERS ABOUTYOUR CHILD'SUPCOMINGAPPOINTMENTS.

YOUCAN DISCUSSWHETHER OR NOT TODELAY CERTAINAPPOINTMENTS, ASKABOUT CHANGES INHOW YOUR CHILDWILL RECEIVE LABDRAWS ANDWHETHER OR NOTSOME APPOINTMENTSCAN BE DONEVIRTUALLY.YOU SHOULD ALSOTALK TO YOURPEDIATRICIAN ABOUTGETTING EXTRAMEDICINES ORSUPPLIES THAT YOURCHILD NEEDS,INCLUDING MEDICALTECHNOLOGY ANDNUTRITION SUPPORT.DURING THIS TIME ITIS ALSO IMPORTANTTO STAY CONNECTED.SOCIAL DISTANCINGDOES NOT MEANYOUR AREALONE--REACH OUTTO PEER SUPPORTORGANIZATIONS.REMEMBER THATYOUR ARE STRONGAND RESILIENT.THESE TIMES MAYPOSE NEWSTRESSORS FOR YOUAND YOUR CHILDREN.CONTINUE TO TRY TOMAINTAIN SOMEROUTINES AND STAYPOSITIVE.WITH THIS MEDICAL