September 2, 2005
Hurricane Katrina: Ways to Help People with Developmental Disabilities and their Families

If you have been looking for a way to help people who have disabilities and their families affected by Hurricane Katrina, I have some information for you. In my opinion, too many splintered efforts cause a lot of confusion at a time like this. So rather than add to the confusion, and in keeping with the spirit of the mission of Creating Solutions, I am passing along information I’ve received. How you choose to direct your help is, of course, your choice. There are a variety of credible options available that are specific to people with disabilities. In keeping with our beliefs, we are offering any credible information we have learned about from various disability advocates.

TASH has set up a specific page with a lot of information from various groups. Probably the most helpful, long-term information on this web page is how people who are displaced by the hurricane can access their SSI payments and which offices are open in the area. There is also information regarding food stamps and other area-specific assistance that will be very helpful to family members. If you have family in the area who use these benefits share this information with them when you talk with them next. I sincerely doubt folks are accessing the Internet much to get this information. Or hang on to it yourself, tell them you have it, and they can ask for it when they’re ready.

Also on this page is information about a fund set up by Ann and Rud Turnbull of the Beach Center on Disability. Ann and Rud are the parents of an adult son who has autism. They are long-time advocates who align themselves with dedicated people and Rud is, I believe, an attorney. You can trust that your money is going to a tangible outcome.

Another interesting opportunity is to help the Centers for Independent Living in the area. Many are taking in the refugees from their affiliate centers in the area. Their plea was very raw. They need equipment and supplies to help care for those who need a new home.

If you are looking for an opportunity to support people with Down syndrome and their families, the National Down Syndrome Society has established a fund to provide help to parent groups in the area. They have a heart-wrenching plea from the president of the Down Syndrome Association of Greater New Orleans, Karen Scallan, as well. The money they collect through their "Katrina Fund" will be given to the affiliates in the area during October, which is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

The Autism Society of America (ASA)has a special fund set up for relief efforts as well. According to their website, ASA has staff in Houston helping locate and assist families who have children “on the spectrum.”

Family Voices, one of the leading advocacy groups for children with special health care needs, has set up a donations page. The money goes directly to volunteers they have working in the affected areas to assist families. They also have links to local newspapers in the area so you can read first-hand what is happening.

There are, of course, the more traditional relief efforts to consider that are not specific to the needs of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Fiscal sponsors are a natural way for people to quickly set up charitable relief projects. The San Francisco Foundation, which established our fiscal sponsorship program (TSFFCIF), has information on various relief efforts in the gulf coast area. Another highly regarded fiscal sponsorship program, The Tides Center, has put together a “rapid response” fund as well.

And, of course, each of the major news stations has a list of credible places to donate:

CNN
ABC
NBC
CBS

Last, there is information on the TASH website regarding methods of connecting people with disabilities and their families to each other. The page includes the ARC's website for messages along with others.

Andy and I have a lot of time together in the evenings now that my older son has gone back to college. We watch the national news and have seen a number of specials about Hurricane Katrina. It is eerily like the 9-11 tragedy for us. As each night’s story unfolds it is only a matter of time before I am visibly shaken and Andy is comforting me. I inevitably begin to think about what would have happened if Andy and I had been caught in Biloxi or New Orleans. If we had to go long periods without Andy’s medication or gluten-free foods to accommodate his celiac disease, it would be pretty difficult. Without food, medication, and water the effects of Andy’s autism would begin to be a barrier to getting help, if not our survival.

Sitting at my desk on a gorgeous sunny day in Oregon, it is hard to believe what is happening to others or that there is anything that I can do that is of use. But I will do something. I hope you will, too, be it a prayer, a donation, or volunteering your time, it will help. We all need to pull together—and remember those who are easily overlooked.

Be safe. Be well. Be Generous.

Joan Guthrie Medlen, RD, LD, is the Project Director of Creating Solutions, Founding Editor of Disability Solutions, and the mother of two grown boys, one of whom has Down syndrome, autism, and celiac disease.

PS- Check my fundraising page and Volunteer Page for ways you can support the work of Creating Solutions.

©2005 Joan Guthrie Medlen
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The opinions shared in this Blog are not necessarily those of Creating Solutions or The San Francisco Foundation Community Initiative Funds