Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service

Overview

A national study of 457 parents of children with disabilities was conducted in 2020 to assess knowledge, beliefs, and needs of families during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic when schools and most aspects of daily life were shut down. Parents reported decreases in formal and informal supports and concerns about the delays and changes in special education services and lack of technology to access those services. Their highest reported need was education for their children followed by a need for family supports.

Dissemination

• AUCD Early Childhood Special Interest Group Webinar Series: Families: What they are saying and how UCEDDs and LENDs can help
  • Part 1: Partnering with state and local special education systems
  • Part 2: Family risk and resiliency; knowledge, attitudes, behaviors of families
  • Part 3: Family leaders
• National and state conference presentations

Publication

Bruder, M. B., Lutz, T. M., & Ferreira, K. E. (2021). Parents of children with disabilities in the early months of COVID-19: knowledge, beliefs, and needs. Developmental Disabilities Network Journal, 1(2), Article 8. https://doi.org/10.26077/e7d4-7c9b