Hey families, the COVID vaccine is on everyone’s mind. Those of us who have children, teens, or young adult children with disabilities have lots of questions. What does this mean for our families? Who is the vaccine good for? Here’s a quick list of what we know already and what we are still learning.

Whether they see it on the news or in their own communities, kids across the United States are aware of the violent acts of racism that our country continues to confront. Do your best to meet your child where they are and acknowledge their feelings, fears or worries, even when they express things that make you uncomfortable. It’s also important to assure kids that you’re doing everything you can to keep them safe. This is especially true for very young children, who may mistakenly believe that whatever they’re seeing or hearing about is an immediate danger to them and their loved ones.

Autistic meltdowns are one of the most difficult parts of autism for me. My meltdowns were not dealt with well in my childhood. My parents thought I was just throwing tantrums. They thought I could control what was happening, which was not the case at all. I was usually locked in my room during these meltdowns.