Although our office is closed to outside visitors, our team is still working and we are here for you! The below has been created to help you navigate resources in our community. We can’t wait to welcome you back to The Arc of Aurora soon.
DISCLAIMER: This resource list is meant to aid our community with locating resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. This list is not exhaustive of all resources in our community and is updated regularly. While The Arc of Aurora acknowledges these as potentially helpful resources for the community, it does not endorse any content from these websites and does not promote or exclusively favor any of these community resources.
General questions and safety
- For general questions about COVID-19 in Colorado
- Testing Sites in Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas Counties
- If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990, TTY 1-800-846-8517, or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
- If you or someone you care about is in an unsafe situation and are worried about having to self-isolate in a dangerous home, call or text 911 or reach out to National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, TTY 1-800-787-3224, or chat at thehotline.org
- COVID-19 Vaccine information
The State of Colorado, local, and national
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF)
- Colorado Department of Education (CDE) – statewide information related to public school
- Social Security Administration (SSA)
- Tri-County Health Department COVID-19 website
- City of Aurora COVID-19 website
Disability specific
- 5+ TIPS FOR PARENTS OF KIDS WITH DISABILITIES DURING CORONAVIRUS
- Autism 24/7: A Family Guide to Learning at Home and In the Community
- Caregivers Self Care
- COVID-19 & Autism
- COVID-19 & At-Risk Communities
- COVID-19 Communication Rights Toolkit
- COVID-19 Disability Form for hospitalization
- COVID-19 & Down Syndrome
- COVID-19 & Epilepsy
- COVID-19 Extra Precautions for People with Disabilities
- COVID-19 & I/DD in Colorado
- COVID-19 Information By and For People with Disabilities in ENGLISH and SPANISH
- COVID-19 Picture Communication Board
- COVID-19 Resources Specific for Individuals with I/DD and Autism and their Families
- COVID-19 Social Story
- Disability-Specific Recommendations for COVID-19
- Everyday Early Intervention
- Guidance for Direct Service Providers
- Guidance for Group Homes for Individuals with Disabilities
- Guidance for Direct Service Providers, Caregivers, Parents, and People with Developmental and Behavioral Disorders
- Helping Children with Traumatic Separation or Grief Related to COVID-19
- Helping Kids Grieve
- Home Curriculum for Early Autism Education
- How-to ABA: Resources for Children with Autism During COVID-19
- People with Developmental and Behavioral Disorders
- Supporting individuals with autism during COVID-19 epidemic
- The Role of the Direct Support Professional and the Coronavirus (video)
- Videos by self-advocates:
- Episode 1: How to Stay Healthy
- Episode 2: What Should I Do If I Think I’m Sick?
- Episode 3: What I Should Do If I Get Sick
- Episode 4: What To Do If a Caregiver or a Family Member Gets Sick
- Episodio 1 – Cómo mantenerse saludable
- Episodio 2 – Lo que debo hacer si creo que estoy enfermo:
- Episodio 3 – Lo que debo hacer si estoy enfermo
- Episodio 4 – Lo que debo hacer si mi familiar o persona que me cuida se enferma
Public School and Education
- Schooling at Home, your guide to remote and hybrid learning with IEP supports
- Managing the COVID-19 Special Education Landscape Video Shorts
- Aurora Public Schools Coronavirus Website
- Cherry Creek Schools Coronavirus Website
- COVID-19 & Special Education Services
- Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Schools While Protecting the Civil Rights of Students
- Addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Schools While Serving Children with Disabilities
Community assistance programs
- 2-1-1 (financial assistance, housing, food, etc.)
- Arapahoe County Early Childhood Council (ACECC) (formula, diapers and wipes through FEMA)
- AuntBertha.com (financial assistance, housing, food, etc.)
- A Little Help (yard chores, snow shoveling, companion, etc.)
- A Precious Child (children’s clothing, baby gear, formula, etc.)
- Action Center (food, clothing, hygiene products, etc.)
- ACCESS Housing (shelter)
- Almost Home (shelter, rent, and utility assistance, etc.)
- City of Aurora, Rental Assistance Program (rent)
- Findhelp.org (food, utility and rent help, financial assistance, shelter, etc.)
- Integrated Family Community Services (food, utility and rent help, financial assistance to victims of crime)
- Ronald McDonald House-Denver (temporary housing for out-of-area families needing to be near their hospitalized children)
- The Delores Project (emergency shelter in Denver)
- The Gathering Place (meals, laundry, showers, etc.)
- The Nappie Project (diaper bank in Northern Colorado)
- Volunteers of America (food, housing, etc.)
- WeeCycle (diapers, wipes, formula, etc.)
Food
- 2-1-1
- AuntBertha.com
- Aurora Interfaith Community Services
- Aurora Public Schools Breakfast/Lunch Grab & Go Sites
- Cherry Creek School District Free Meal Sites
- City of Aurora Food Resources for Kids
- Community Food Share
- Community Table
- Covenant Cupboard (Presbyterian Church)
- Denver Emergency Food Access
- Emergency Food Locations
- Findhelp.org
- Food Bank of the Rockies
- Food for Thought Denver
- Golden Backpack Program
- Hope Starts Here (Smoky Hill Vineyard Church)
- Hunger Free Colorado
- Jewish Family Service
- Listing of Denver Food Pantries
- Local Map to Find Meals School Meal for Kids
- Metro Caring
- More Life Center (Colorado Community Church)
- Outreach United Resource Center
- Parker Task Force
- Peace with Christ Church (may be able to arrange delivery if you are unable to pick-up in person)
- Project Angel Heart
- SECORCares
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- The Potters House of Denver
Grocery delivery
- Access-A-Ride food delivery
- Costco
- Instacart
- King Soopers
- PostMates
- Miller Farms (produce, eggs, honey, and tortillas)
- Safeway
- Sprouts
- Whole Foods
Pets
- Colorado Pet Food Pantry – Pet food is subject to availability with no promises over specific brands or items available on any given day.
- Aurora Animal Shelter – call (303) 326-8280 if you are in need. Pet food is subject to availability with no promises over specific brands or items available on any given day.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Financial
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Unemployment Insurance
- Disaster Loans for Small Businesses
- File for unemployment
- Small Business Administration Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
Health insurance
Workplace
Transportation
Volunteer or Donate
- The Arc of Aurora – make a cash donation or call us at 720-213-1420 to arrange a drop-off donation of non-perishable food to help many of the food insecure children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their families we support.
- Arc Thrift Stores’ Feed Colorado – donate non-perishable food.
- Help Colorado Now – Deliver food, medication, and medical supplies, and help with daily tasks for people who live alone.
- CU School of Medicine Students Available for Community Help – “our students have organized a volunteer work force while they are away from clinical activities to help with many non clinical things, including calling isolated people, helping with virtual visits, aiding seniors and engaging with the health systems to help out where needed.”
- Register to be a disaster volunteer
- Donate blood
Entertainment
- 10 popular short films, featuring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Broadway Plays & Musicals to Watch from Home
- COVID-19 Comics for Kids
- Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions due to School Closings
- Enrichment Activities
- Entertaining & Educational Indoor Activities
- Four Easy Ways to Host A Virtual Play Date
- Free Books, Music, Movies, & TV Shows Through Hoopla with Library Card (Get Your Library Card Online)
- Free Ivy League Online Courses
- Guide to Simple Activities for Children & Adolescents with No Screen Time
- OT Toolbox: Home Activity Recommendations
- PBS: Into the Book
- Scholastic Learn at Home Website
- Seussville
- SwitchZoo Animal Games
- Time Capsule Coloring Book
- The Story of the Oyster and the Butterfly: Coronavirus and Me
- Virtual Field Trips
- Virtual Museum Tours