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This page is to help share information being generated as a result of Hurricane Katrina that may impact on individuals with disabilities and other special needs. Please feel free to contact ctcameron@inclusioninc.com if you have information that you would like posted here. The Disabilities Preparedness Center will review all postings to ensure that the messages are legitimate and will have a positive impact.

The event of the last few days have created a catastrophe for individuals with disabilities and other special needs, particularly for those who are trapped in the New Orleans area. It is apparent to me that the situation is still deteriorating, as the emergency preparedness for people with disabilities appears to woefully inadequate. I have received a few calls from other disability organizations related to Katrina, and I have been pondering what to do in response to this crisis. As an organization, Inclusion Research Institute, which operates the Disability Preparedness Center in Washington, DC focuses primarily on emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities and other special needs. In light of what is happening, it is apparent to me that we need to help in the response as well. You only have to see the pictures and hear the reports coming from that region to to know that the people most at risk are in the most need. The dramatic picture (CNN, September 1, 2005) of the woman in a wheel chair who has expired and her body parked at the door to the Superdome could not be more tragic.

I am writing this with the thought that we might want to poll the disability and special needs organizations to see what interest there is in developing a coordinated response. If there is interest, the DPC will host a toll free conference call to see if we can together create a response to help our colleagues and friends in the impacted area. I have already spoken with Sue Swenson from the ARC who has indicated as desire to participate with others. I am also preparing a spot on www.disabilitypreparedness.org that we could use to coordinate as another communication alternative.

Please let me know what you think, as time is critical, and I hope that in some way we can all contribute.

From:Dawn Heinsohn
IL NET: ILRU/NCIL National Training and Technical Assistance Project ILRU Program 2323 S. Shepherd, Suite 1000 Houston, TX 77019 713.520.0232 ext. 130 (v) 713.520.5136 (TTY) 713.520.5785 (fax) Worldwide Web Site: http://www.ilru.org ILRU is a program of TIRR (The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research), a nationally recognized medical rehabilitation facility for persons with disabilities in Houston. http://www.tirr.org/

Dear IL Colleague,

As you may know, the Centers for Independent Living in Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans have been gravely affected by the hurricane. In fact the Biloxi, MS center was totally destroyed. Many of you are asking how you can help. Here is what we have learned from colleagues in those states.

Sending money is the first priority. Sending supplies to those centers is helpful too but NOT RIGHT NOW, because they can't get through the water.

Here are the suggested options for right now:

1) Send a check or credit card payment to the Red Cross and designate it for Hurricane Relief, or designate it for people with disabilities in the Biloxi/Hattiesburg or New Orleans areas.

2) If you want to send money for the CILs that are dealing with this disaster directly, here are your options:

For the Biloxi Center, mail the check (payable to LIFE of Central MS and designated for the Biloxi Center) to:

LIFE of Central Mississippi
754 North President Street, Suite 1
Jackson, MS 39202

For the centers in Louisiana (make checks payable to Resources for Independent Living - this is a branch of the N.O. center - and designate for the New Orleans center) and mail to:

Resources for IL
11931 Industriplex Blvd. Suite 200
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

We have also learned from Mack Marsh of the Shreveport Center that centers in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and Lake Charles are assisting evacuees. Mack says they would also appreciate supplies if there is any way to get those supplies to the centers. His list includes: manual wheelchairs, hospital beds, adult diapers, bed pads, catheters and other supplies. The address for the Baton Rouge center is shown above, addresses for the Shreveport and Lake Charles centers follow.

Southwest LA Independence Center, Inc.
Mitch Granger
1202 Kirkman, Suite C
Lake Charles, LA 70601

New Horizons, Inc.
Jerry Kidwell
9300 Mansfield Road, Suite 204
Shreveport, LA 71118

We will keep you informed of any additional ways that you can help. Feel free to forward this information to other people interested in the needs of people with disabilities affected by this disaster.

--ilru: over 25 years of creating a world of independence--