When a catastrophe such as Hurricane Harvey strikes, the
consequences are disastrous for everyone impacted. For people with physical,
psychological and developmental disabilities, the situation can be even more
dire. Just imagine: trying to maneuver a wheelchair through five feet of water;
being blind and having to climb a ladder to safety; having autism and losing
your home and the prized possessions that make you feel secure. These are just
some of the challenges that people with disabilities are facing in the wake of
Hurricane Harvey.
Amidst the devastation in Texas, nonprofits that advocate
for people with disabilities are doing their best to ensure that they aren’t
left behind. Here are some that are doing good work or collecting money for
people with disabilities. You may wish to support them at this critically
important time.
Portlight
and its partner, The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies has been working on behalf of people with
disabilities “to
promote inclusiveness in disaster preparedness and response plans and to demand
provisions for transportation and shelter accessibility,” since 1997. During
Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the organization worked with disabled hurricane
survivors for 18 months, helping them to replace lost medical equipment,
rebuild ramping, and more. Portlight provided similar support for disabled victims
of flooding in Louisiana in 2016. Portlight also runs a program called Getting It Right which offers workshops and
conferences on issues related to inclusive disaster preparedness and advocates
for accessibility in housing and transportation.
This nonprofit,
geared specifically toward parents, caregivers and individuals with
tracheostomies, is collecting and distributing medical supplies to Harvey
victims with complex medical needs, those who are dependent on technology or
immune compromised.
The local affiliate of NFB has started a
Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund for blind and low vision Texans affected by the
storm.
This organization is aiding for hurricane
victims with speech and language disorders who use augmentative and alternative
communication devices.
The Texas Diaper Bank has created a disaster relief
fund to provide diapers to babies, people with disabilities and the elderly
affected by Hurricane Harvey.
This Austin-based school has started a
Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund to benefit students who have been displaced by the
storm.
This organization has set up its own Hurricane
Harvey Relief fund for families affected by autism.
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