Covid19 – News on restrictions, permissions, support & other information

Please forgive the less than ideal organisation of the many items in the page below. Information is coming in to us regularly and items are being added all the time. The information includes:


For links to all government guidance and support in connection with Covid-19 see this page:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Covid Vaccine Easy Read (downloadable): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/951000/PHE_11843_Covid-19_Easy-read_leaflet.pdf

Guidance for people who are providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-providing-unpaid-care-to-adults-with-learning-disabilities-and-autistic-adults?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=a4278591-5d84-4832-9b54-81c9ee4a00b9&utm_content=daily

Sheffield City Council Changes to Services / Support for People
https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/your-city-council/coronavirus-hub

https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/your-city-council/coronavirus-hub/support-for-people

Key public safety information to help support Sheffield’s various communities during the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s all free to use and supplied in various languages and formats: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/coronaviruscommunityresources

 Information about face covering
Government Guidance (Updated 12th March 2021) : Face coverings: when to wear one and how to make your own

For advice on exemptions from the NHS and printable exemption cards download: mask exemption cards

Some suggestions about choosing masks from ‘Autism Wellbeing’. See here (PDF): Choosing masks

See also our News item of 21st June

Hospital Visiting (from the NHS):
An immediate family member or carer – will be permitted to visit if you are supporting someone with a mental health issue such as dementia, a learning disability or autism, where not being present would cause the patient to be distressed.

See full statement here: Visitor-Guidance_8-April-2020
(NB Sheffield health authorities say, please check with the specific ward  before you visit.)

Preparing a Covid19 Hospital Communication Passport and Supporting Resources
for children and adults with special needs:
https://includemetoo.org.uk/covid19/?fbclid=IwAR0izydmNCbzKKCg1ScDW_8VuTF2yIX2CDK0lOqrgOXN7DanFbxjwtzD4No

NHS COVID-19 ‘Grab and Go’ Hospital Passport
A quick form for people with a learning disability and / or autism to complete if they need to go to hospital. Ideally it should accompany the complete hospital passport (see item above): C0381_NHS Covid-19 Grab and Go LDA Form

SpeakUp Spreading the News “What if I have to go into hospital?” Easy Read Guide published 3rd November 2020
Speakup  Spreading the News 3 November 2020

‘Coping with COVID’ for people struggling with their mental health during Coronavirus
Sheffield Health and Social Care have a phone line and are providing an online course ‘Coping with COVID’ for people struggling with their mental health during Coronavirus. These services are available to anyone, you do not have to have accessed mental health services in the past: https://www.shsc.nhs.uk/news/new-support-people-struggling-their-mental-health-during-coronavirus

National Autistic Society Guidance and Top Tips
The NAS’s latest guidance on coronavirus and some handy top tips for dealing with its impact:
https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/coronavirus

See also https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/coronavirus/fighting-for-your-rights

The Government’s Plan to Support the Social Care System (16 April 2020):
A commentary by the National Autistic Society

Sheffield Carers Centre – Update on Services for Carers
see PDF : Update from the Carers Centre

Sheffield Carers Outreach Project Virtual Carers Groups
Sheffield Carers Outreach Project are offering a number of Virtual Carers Groups,  starting this week (28th April).
These groups are for both adults with LDs and/ or autism and their carer/ parent.
See the posters on this page
and to find  out more please e-mail the Carers Outreach Team at: cope@sheffieldmencap.org.uk.

Covid-19: Supporting autistic people and people with learning disabilities
Guides from the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) for families and professionals supporting autistic adults and adults with learning disabilities during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

Vaccination: An NHS  film for people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people about vaccination.

Disability Sheffield
Support from Disability Sheffield during Covid-19 Crisis

Coronavirus – Easy Read Guides from the UK Government
coronavirus-leaflet-easy-read
Social Housing and Coronavirus

Easy read posters and other easy read resources on the government’s latest rules and guidance on coronavirus
From keepsafe.org.uk: On face masks, government’s rules, shielding, testing and other issues, including editable posters:
https://www.keepsafe.org.uk/posters

Coronavirus A Book for Children
by Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler
You can download the free book here:   https://nosycrowcoronavirus.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coronavirus_ABookForChildren.pdf

Ideas, activities, resources during the lockdown
mainly – but not only – for people with a learning disability and their families, from the internet: see this page

See also Sheffield Carers Outreach Project Virtual Carers Groups above

See also materials from Sheffield Childrens Hospital and Widgit Software

RNIB Bookshare
Interesting for organisations and parents  of learners with a print disability. Accessible textbooks and resources for learners with sight loss, dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism and qualifying physical disabilities. “RNIB Bookshare UK education collection provides textbooks and materials to support the UK curriculum. We offer a range of accessible formats that can be read electronically or adapted to suit the personal reading needs of learners. We now have 545,905 titles with more being added all the time!” See https://www.rnibbookshare.org/ 

Be alert to Coronavirus Scams and Fraud
(Courtesy of Triodos Bank): https://www.triodos.co.uk/articles/2020/be-alert-to-coronavirus-fraud?utm_source=Service&utm_medium=email&utm_term=&utm_content=Read-more&utm_campaign=04_2020-Coronavirus-fraud—retail