IMPORTANT FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO RECEIVE SERVICES

HIPAA

HHS OCR bulletin discussing the application of the privacy rules in emergency situations.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights HURRICANE KATRINA BULLETIN: HIPAA PRIVACY and DISCLOSURES IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS Persons who are displaced and in need of health care as a result of a severe disaster – such as Hurricane Katrina – need ready access to health care and the means of contacting family and caregivers. We provide this bulletin to emphasize how the HIPAA Privacy Rule allows patient information to be shared to assist in disaster relief efforts, and to assist patients in receiving the care they need. Providers and health plans covered by the HIPAA Privacy Rule can share patient information in all the following ways: go to link upper left corner.

CRISIS HOTLINE AVAILABLE FOR VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA
The Department of Health and Human Services today announced the availability of a toll-free hotline for people in crisis in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. By dialing 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255), callers will be connected to a network of local crisis centers across the country that are committed to crisis counseling. Callers to the hotline will receive counseling from trained staff at the closest certified crisis center inthe network.

Air America Public Voicemail
1-866-217-6255

Air America Radio's Public Voicemail is a way for disconnected people to communicate.
Here's how it works:
Call the toll-free number above, enter your everyday phone number, and then record a message. Other people who know your everyday phone number (even if it doesn't work anymore) can call Emergency Voicemail, enter the phone number they associate with you, and hear your message. You can also search for messages left by people whose phone numbers you know. Air America Radio will leave Public Voicemail in service for as long as this crisis continues. You can call it whenever you are trying to locate someone, or if you are trying to be found.

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HHS RELEASE--ALL CHILDREN 18 AND UNDER DISPLACED BY HURRICANE KATRINA WILL RECEIVE FREE VACCINATIONS Date: September 16, 2005

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced today that all children from birth to 18 years old displaced by Hurricane Katrina are eligible to receive free vaccines through the federally-run Vaccines for Children program (VFC), regardless of whether they are staying at shelters, hotels, or with family and friends and regardless of previous health insurance coverage status. Managed by HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the VFC helps families of children who may not otherwise have access to vaccines byproviding free vaccines to doctors who serve them.

HHS considers all children from birth to 18 years old who have been displaced by the effects of Hurricane Katrina to effectively be uninsured, because they are not expected to have access to medical records or proof of insurance. Taking this action allows doctors, clinics, and health departments who provide childhood vaccinations to immunize these children using VFC vaccine.
The Vaccines for Children program is an entitlement program (a right granted by law) for eligible children, age 18 and below, known as section 1928 of the Social Security Act. VFC became operational Oct. 1, 1994. Through the VFC program, public purchased vaccine is available at no charge to enrolled public and private health care providers for eligible children. More
information about the VFC program can be obtained at http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vfc/.

CDC's Interim Immunization Recommendations for Individuals Displaced by Hurricane Katrina can be accessed at
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/katrina/vaccrecdisplaced.asp . Complete information on the full range of accelerated benefits available from HHS for hurricane victims is available at http://www.hhs.gov/katrina.

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FINDING PEOPLE YOU LOVE

Katrina Missing Persons Hotline, 1-888-544-5475. Photographs, names, and physical descriptions of missing adults, missing children, and found children from hurricane-stricken areas will be posted to NCMEC's web site at http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_ US&PageId=2077

CaringBridgeRelief service
http://www.CaringBridgeRelief.org and the phone number is 651.452.7940 .

Katrina Evacuee Help Center

The Katrina Evacuee Help Center website was created in response to the need for a centralized "one stop shop" for evacuees, families looking to reunite, and the people working to assist them. The call went out soon after the hurricane struck, "There are people posting messages in different places all over the Internet, on news sites, and on missing person's registers. We need a centralized registry and we need it fast".
http://disastersearch.org

 

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ANIMAL RESCUE OPERATION & SHELTERS

Locations for Animal Evacuation:
• Alexandria - Large & Small 318-442-4222 (all vet clinics will accept)
• Shreveport - LSU-S (pets only, no livestock)
• West Monroe - Ike Hamilton Coliseum

Humane Society of the United States Disaster Relief Fund Donate
http://www.hsus.org

American Humane Society's Animal Emergency Service Donate
http://www.americanhumane.org

North Shore Animal League Hurrican Katrina Rescue Donate
http://www.nsalamerica.org

United Animal Nations Emergency Animal Rescue Service Donate
http://www.uan.org/ears/action_report.html

Noah's Wish - Rescuing & Sheltering Animals in Disasters Donate
http://www.noahswish.org/

See also Service Animals

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ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY and INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Talking Books

A free program offered by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, helps provide eligible students with the reading materials they need to succeed. Through its national network of cooperating libraries, NLS mails books and magazines on cassette and in braille, as well as audio equipment, directly to the employees at no cost.

This is a no cost program to host families who take in displaced families with blind or physically handicapped children. Please help us promote this program on your web or in the material you give to host families. Also, please encourage host families to call 1-888-NLS-READ (1-888-657-7323) or go to http://www.loc.gov/nls/find.html  for a directory of cooperating local libraries participating in the Talking Books program and for enrollment information.

T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability at Mississippi State U.

Accepting donated assistive technology to give to people on the Gulf Coast. If someone has any assistive technology they would like to donate (we can refurbish used equipment) then please contact the T.K. Martin Center by any of the means listed below:
 
T.K. Martin Center
Box 9736
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: (662) 325-1028 Fax: (662) 325-0896
Email Website: www.tkmartin.msstate.edu

WebEx "Network companies have stepped up recently with generous offers to help those directly affected by Hurricane Katrina. Among them is WebEx, which is offering a free Web collaboration service for relief organizations and small businesses. WebEx is also offering services to help relief organizations promote their programs and train volunteers (http://www.webex.com/go/katrina)"

National Christina Foundation

NCF provides computer technology and solutions to give people with disabilities, students at risk and economically disadvantaged persons the opportunity, through training, to lead more independent and productive lives. Every day, across America and around the world, National Cristina Foundation is working to ensure that used computer technology resources that no longer meet an enterprise's or an individual's needs are given a second productive life as a tool for developing human potential. Expedited assistence for agencies responding to the crisis. No grants to individuals

500 West Putnam Avenue
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
(203) 863-9100
http://www.cristina.org

 

ECRI Launches Info Clearinghouse for Medical Device-Related Disaster Relief

ECRI, a nonprofit health services research agency, announces its launch of a Web-based clearinghouse for information on medical device-related disaster relief to benefit healthcare facilities affected by Hurricane Katrina. To initiate the Katrina relief effort, ECRI drew upon its database of medical device manufacturers, service companies, and distributors listed in its comprehensive online database-Health Devices International Sourcebase-and asked over 8,000 North American companies to submit information on all products or services being offered to help with the disaster relief effort.

The Katrina Medical Technology Information Clearinghouse is accessible from ECRI's main Web page at http://www.ecri.org. Developed as a public service in the wake of the unprecedented disaster in the Gulf region, ECRI's clearinghouse provides a central resource that healthcare facilities can turn to for information related to medical devices, supplies, and services being offered by manufacturers worldwide. Also, ECRI has provided a number of its resources, including company directories and guidance articles on emergency preparedness.

ECRI
A Nonprofit Agency
5200 Butler Pike
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
T +1 (610) 825-6000, ext. 5310
F +1 (610) 834-1275
communications@ecri.org

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BLIND and LOW VISION skip this section

National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana
Pam Allen
101 South Trenton Street
Ruston LA 71270
(318) 251 2891

The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is working with its Chapters and Affiliates in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas to provide direct assistance to people who are blind and visually impaired who were affected by Hurricane Katrina. ACB has set up a relief fund for this.

In addition ACB is providing a “Check-In Line” where individuals who are blind or visually impaired can “Check-In” with their name and where they are currently located as well as to indicate any needs they might have. That number is (1-800-424-8666, box 12). With over 600 people (of our own members alone) listed as being from that area, we hope to be able to account for as many people as possible. We can also be reached via email at info@acb.org. Please put “Katrina Check-In” in the subject line and any further information in the body of the message.

American Council of the Blind (National Office)
1155 15th St. NW
Suite 1004
Washington DC 20005
Tel. (202) 467-5081 and 1 (800) 424-8666
Fax: (202) 467-5085

See also Service Animals

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CHRONIC ILLNESS skip to next section

AIDS/ HIV

AIDS Alliance/Katrina Fund
1600 K Street NW Suite 200
Washington DC 20006

Donate http://www.aids-alliance.org

Triage Tips to be used when treating people living with HIV prepared by the American Academy of HIV Medicine and the HIV Medicine Association. These tips may be helpful to all those providing medical services to individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

For Future Updates: Visit the CDCNPIN website (www.cdcnpin.org) to get connected to future Hurricane Katrina resource links and information for HIV, AIDS, and TB service providers.

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The Arthritis Foundation can help provide arthritis-related drugs and assist you in locating a rheumatologist. Please call (800) 879-7896 for more information. Visit the Foundation's Resource page for tips on managing your arthritis during this trying time.
Please consult the chart below for local physicians who have agreed to see Katrina evacuees and help them access medications. We will keep this list updated, so please check back for more listings. You may also contact our Chapter office at 800-879-7896 for updated information throughout Alabama and the Mobile branch at 251-639-9722 for updated information specific to Lower Alabama. Children with Arthritis needing medical attention in the Mobile Bay Area, please call Children’s Rehabilitation Services of Alabama at 251-432-4560.

Dr. Winn Chatham Birmingham 205-801-8187 Dr. Laura Hughes Birmingham 205-801-8187

Dr. Richard Jones Tuscaloosa 205-750-0030 Dr. Maura Kennedy Birmingham 205-591-2758

Dr. Anthony Saway Birmingham 205-933-0320 Dr. Gino DiVittorio Mobile 251-633-8880

Dr. Thomas McGee Mobile 251-432-1200 Dr. Tom Myers Mobile 251-633-8880

Dr. Teresa Oglesby Mobile 251-633-8880 Dr. Daren Scroggie Mobile 251-432-1200

http://www.arthritis.org/resources/news/katrina.asp

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American Cancer Society

As a result of Hurricane Katrina and her aftermath, it is vital that the needs of cancer patients and their displaced loved ones are addressed immediately. The American Cancer Society has already made significant progress in connecting cancer patients in the affected region with lifesaving cancer information, resources, and services.

* The National Cancer Information Center (NCIC) 1-800-ACS-2345 (or 1-866-228-4327 for TTY) stands ready 24 hours a day to refer callers to community resources and to triage cancer patients to oncology nurses when appropriate.

* Our Web site (http://www.cancer.org) has compiled a comprehensive list of resources to help survivors deal with all aspects of the storm's aftermath.

* Staff and volunteers based in the Gulf Region are on the ground in the affected areas to serve the needs of evacuees, including connecting patients to treatment.

Diabetes

Diabetes Emergency Preparedness Info 
http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes/travel/emergency-tips.jsp

Children with Diabetes is working with the Children with Diabetes Foundation and dLife to provide diabetes supplies and assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina.
URL: http://www.cwdfoundation.org/
URL:http://www.dlife.com/

Children with Diabetes Information for Classmates
http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/d_0q_421.htm

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The National Hemophilia Foundation is actively serving as a conduit connecting people to necessary services and as an information clearinghouse for resources and assistance. You can find the most up-to-date information about available resources on our Web site - www.hemophilia.org If you have a bleeding or clotting disorder or know someone who does ...
List of 4 items
• If you need emergency treatment, go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
• Displaced people who need factor products may contact the Gulf States Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center in Houston, TX at 713.500.8360. The staff of the Tulane-based Louisiana Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders is working with the Gulf States Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center to provide factor and treatment for people displaced from Louisiana.
The Gulf States Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center will write and fill prescriptions for patients who come to the center and will also assist displaced patientswho are able to receive factor through the mail.
• The Texas-based Lone Star Chapter of NHF is providing assistance with basic living needs for people relocated to the Houston area. You can contact themat 1-888-LSC-NHF1.
• People who have been relocated and need to find a new local hemophilia treatment center (HTC) can get an alphabetical listing of HTCs by state on our Web site.list end If you are in need of additional help or can provide any help please contact us at hurricaneinfo@hemophilia.org.

Federally-funded Hemophilia Treatment Centers for persons with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders
Anyone in need of emergency medical assistance should call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency room. If you need more information, please contact the National Hemophilia Foundation Information Resource Center – HANDI – at 800-42-HANDI.

Hurricane Katrina Relief Program
The National Hemophilia Foundation has set up a Hurricane Katrina Relief Program. To make your online credit card donation, please go to: Donate
To make a donation through the mail, make your check payable to NHF’s Hurricane Katrina Relief Program. Please mail your check to: National Hemophilia Foundation, Hurricane Katrina Relief Program, 116 West 32nd Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10001.

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MDA Providing Emergency Services for Hurricane Refugees with Muscular Dystrophy
Hurricane Katrina’s refugees include individuals and families facing the additional challenges -– and unique needs –- imposed by progressive neuromuscular diseases such as muscular dystrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease). The Muscular Dystrophy Association has implemented an emergency action plan to assist those it serves who have been directly affected by the storm.

Services include emergency repairs of wheelchairs and leg braces, and loans of crucial assistive equipment, which may include wheelchairs, mechanical lifts, communication devices and hospital beds. Those displaced by the hurricane also will have access to MDA clinics and MDA/ALS centers in their temporary locations to address medical issues related to their neuromuscular diseases. More information at: http://www.mdausa.org/news/050903er_services.html

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National Multiple Sclerosis Society: Assistance for People and Families w/MS
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/hurricane.asp

As the scope of devastation wrought by Katrina becomes clearer, it becomes increasingly important to rally behind not only the general population that were caught in the hurricane's path, but the thousands of people with MS, their families, and those that serve them who have special and sometimes overwhelming needs. This dedicated site provides resources and information to the MS community. The information is updated regularly.

To find a local Chapter resources wherever you are: 1-800-FIGHT-MS (1-800-344-4867)
louisianachapter@nmss.org

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MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY DISORDER

Immuneweb: http://immuneweb.org/katrina/

Providing Shelter for People with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
http://immuneweb.org/dg/katrina/mcsshelter.html

Providing Shelter for People with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia
http://immuneweb.org/dg/katrina/cfsshelter.html

I can also provide phone or email consulting for any shelter or other group who has any questions about these disabilities.
I run a mailing list/support group for people with MCS (etc) and I wrote a website on the toxins released by the Sept 11th attacks (this was within a couple days after -- http://www.immuneweb.org/911). I plan to do something similar for the toxins released by the hurricane and flooding, not to mention the aftermath (they're already planning massive pesticide spraying).
Cyndi (note: people in the MCS community may know me as Cyndi Norman. I recently changed my name.)

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CENTERS FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING skip this section

Your tax-deductible contribution to the NCIL Disaster Relief Fund can be sent to:
NCIL Disaster Relief Fund
1916 Wilson Blvd., Suite 209
Arlington, VA 22201
(Checks Payable to: NCIL Disaster Relief Fund)

FYI. A backlash against using federal dollars for storm relief is now emerging in the form of demands to cut other parts of the budget to compensate for increased expenditures around Katrina. If this gets momentum, it could threaten appropriations across the board (e.g. Housing, Title VII Part C, etc.) while worsening our prospects for a satisfying outcome to budget reconciliation vis a vis Medicaid.

A good core message here is : Spending to meet the needs of those dislocated by Katrina is a wise and necessary investment, but it does not diminish the existing needs of persons with disabilities across the country for housing, health care and other vital needs. If anything, the shock to the federal system requires more spending in the short term to cushion the economy against the blow to markets, consumer confidence and the inevitable disruptions in the availability of affordable housing, assistive technology/ durable medical equipment and jobs.

Daniel Davis
National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)
Phone: 703-525-3406, ext 26

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To help Biloxi Center for Independent Living, send donations to:

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

or

Shelia Browning, SILC Liaison
Department of Rehabilitation Services
1281 Highway 51 North
Madison, MS 39042
(601) 853-5209

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To help New Orleans Center for Independent Living, send donations to:

Resources for IL, Attn:  Yavonka Archaga
11931 Industriplex Blvd. Suite 200
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

or

Louis Prejean, Executive Director
Louisiana Statewide Independent Living Council
P.O. Box 94004
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
(225) 229-7552

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California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC) has set up a relief fund on its website Donate Vince Wentzel (916) 325-1690 vince@cfiolc.org

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COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES/ DISABILITIES

Speech to Speech (STS) is free, available 24 hours a day and provides communication assistants (CAs) for people with difficulty being understood by the public on the telephone.  The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington DC regulates relay service. STS is provided through the TTY relay in each state.  Unlike TTY, STS enables people with speech disabilities to communicate by voice through a CA as many people with speech disabilities have difficulty typing.
 
People with speech disabilities can dial toll free to reach a patient, trained CA who is familiar with many speech patterns and has excellent language recognition skills. This CA makes telephone calls for them and repeats their words exactly in a 3-way calling environment.
 
STS also helps some speech synthesizer users, users of  Augmentative and Alternative  Communication (AAC.)   AAC users may ask the STS CA set up the call, negotiate the menu, introduce the call explaining AAC and then go into the background.  AAC users communicate independently once the other party is on the line.
 
For a list of U. S. Speech-to-Speech access numbers go to: http://www.stsnews.com/RelayNews/STSDialUpTelnumbers.html You can also access STS by dialing 711 and asking for Speech to Speech.

Katrina Relief Plan for People with Communication Difficulties

The United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (USSAAC) is assisting individuals who rely on augmentative communication techniques, strategies and technologies (AAC), their families and the professionals who serve them who have been impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

USSAAC is working to insure that all individuals who can benefit from AAC (as well as the professionals, agencies, rehabilitation centers, hospitals and organizations who serve them) gain access to needed AAC equipment (devices, communication displays, batteries, etc.), AAC materials (manuals, books, software, etc.) and related AAC services (evaluation, therapy, funding).

USSAAC is currently accepting donations of money, equipment, materials, services and supports through its website. We are also helping AAC professionals who have lost their jobs due to Katrina to find employment.

USSAAC is working with AAC manufacturers, disability organizations and professionals to meet the immediate and longer-term communication needs of people affected by Katrina.

If you (or someone you know) require AAC assistance, please go to the USSAAC Website (www.ussaac.org) and specify your needs for equipment, materials, services and/or employment. You may also fax any request to 831-646-5428 or call 877-8USSAAC (877-887-7222) (toll-free).

Meher Banajee, Coordinator, USSAAC Katrina Relief Plan. Email

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DEAF, DEAF/BLIND AND HARD OF HEARING skip this section

Emergency assistance plans for those who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. The Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network (CEPIN) Project has designated CSD of Oklahoma and Northern Resource Virginia Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons (NVRC) as CEPIN contact centers for Hurricane Katrina
victims and their families. Agencies serving deaf or hard of hearing individuals in the areas
affected by Hurricane Katrina are reporting that their phone lines and offices are shut down for the time being. Coverage for pagers may be weak at times due to loss of network capabilities. As a result, people wanting to find information on recovery and rescue efforts in the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina are encouraged in Louisiana or displaced westward in Texas to contact CSD of Oklahoma during regular business hours at:

www.c-s-d.org (click on locations, then Oklahoma)
(866) 845-7445 Voice/TTY (Toll Free)
(918) 835-7445 Voice/TTY
(918) 835-6459 FAX
Email

http://www.nvrc.org
(703) 352-9056 TTY
(703) 352-9055 Voice
(703) 352-9058 FAX
info@nvrc.org

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DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (PRIMARILY) - skip this section

AUTISM

Talk Autism How the Autism Community Shares Knowledge, Information and Assistance: http://www.talkautism.com/
If you can host a family:http://66.148.5.47/CrystalPages/default2.html

Unlocking Austism Do you know families with children or adults with autism affected by Hurricane Katrina? We can help them.  Unlocking Autism has collected money to assist them immediately and can place families in homes across the country NOW! Please contact us at 866-366-3361 or visit our site at www.unlockingautism.org if you are directly in touch with any family with a child or adult with autism needing assistance as a result of the hurricane whether they are staying with friends or in a shelter. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, LA, we have experienced the storm here personally and our heart is ready to serve these families as quickly as possible.

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Easter Seals “Gulf Coast Disaster Resource Center” at www.easterseals.com/disasterinfo, which includes regularly updated information to help people with disabilities and their families stay informed about disability services following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (e.g., links to government resources and hotlines, information on disaster assistance for people with disabilities, information for health care professionals).

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FAMILY VOICES
Make a donation to Family Voices, a tax-exempt corporation that helps families that include children with special needs. Your dollars will be directed from our national office to our volunteer leaders 'on the ground' in the affected states. We promise that 100% of your donations will go to help families and their children and youth. Your donations will pay for items and services identified as necessary by our volunteer leaders in the states either directly affected by the hurricane or receiving its victims. Things as basic as anti-bacterial wipes, diapers, phone cards, medical care, medications, gas and food money, rent, toys, clothing. Our family leaders will also help families negotiate the confusing maze that comes with finding temporary shelter, working with insurance companies, filling out forms, signing up for new schools. We will update our donors on our progress through this website.

If you have any questions about the Families Helping Families Relief Fund or Family Voices, please contact Rachel Tallman, email, at the Family Voices National Office at 1-888-835-5669. Thanks from our heart to yours!
 
Go to http://www.familyvoices.org for information on how to donate: Donate

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To help families thru the Beach Center, the 300 families from Pyramid Parent Training Center - Parent Recovery Trust:

Rud Turnbull, Co-Director
Beach Center on Disability, The University of Kansas
1200 Sunnyside Avenue
3111 Haworth Hall
Lawrence, KS 66045
Ph: 785-864-7610
http://www.beachcenter.org

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Spina Bifida Hurricane Emergency Life-sustaining Program (SBHELP)
Donate: http://www.sbaa.org

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Spinal Muscular Atropy www.smasupport.com (SMA Support Inc) is a 501(c)(3) charity organization who helps families dealing with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a genetic neuromuscular disease that works much like ALS (Lou Gherig's Disease)--only often faster.  We have a Katrina Disaster Fund set up and have already sent out the necessary medical supplies to families with SMA affected by Katrina.  Filters, syringes, tubing, masks, feeding pumps and bags, special formulas, etc.  We've also sent out cash for those whose banks are gone and can't buy supplies, food, water, gas. 

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United Cerebral Palsy
http://www.ucp.org/donateDisplaced persons with disabilities in the Houston area can call United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Houston for assistance at (713) 838 - 9050 ext. 304, 305 or 306; or email us at ucp@ucphouston.org.
UCP is in need of donated durable medical equipment and assistive devices or monetary donations to provide counseling, other support services and to purchase medical equipment needed by people with special needs.
Please call Jenny at (713) 838-9050, ext. 304.  Donate

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Center for Medicaid and Medicare - Katrina Information
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/katrina

Hurricane Katrina Equipment Distribution Program
for People with Disabilities and Older People
People with disabilities and older people in Louisiana were forced to leave wheelchairs, hospital beds, walkers, canes, communication devices, and other types of medical equipment and assistive technology when they evacuated from the path of Hurricane Katrina. Others find themselves in need of such devices due to illness and injury resulting from the storm.
The Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network (LATAN), in partnership with New Horizons Independent Living Center, Southwest Louisiana Independence Center, Come and Help, United Cerebral Palsy of Louisiana, and other organizations in the state, are operating an Equipment Distribution Program to receive donated equipment and distribute it to the individuals who need the devices.
We would appreciate any assistive technology devices you can send. At this point we have requests for wheelchairs, including oversized ones for people who weigh 300-600 pounds. We also have requests for walkers, canes, hospital beds, potty chairs, shower chairs. We have not been able to assess all of the needs yet. Most of these requests have come from shelters. We are also working with disability groups and individuals to supply equipment to individuals who can 3own2 the equipment, and who can take the equipment with them as they leave the shelter,
We need your help in several ways.
To donate funds for this operation online, go to www.latan.org, (this will be operational later today) or call LATAN at 225.925.9500 for a credit card payment, or mail your donation to LATAN‹Hurricane Katrina Fund, P. O. Box 14115, Baton Rouge, LA 70898.
To donate equipment, please contact Clara Pourciau at cpourciau@latan.org or Julie Nesbit at jnesbit@latan.org. or call 225.925.9500.
To volunteer your time for this equipment distribution program, please contact Cyndi Mabry in Baton Rouge at cmabry@latan.org or 225.925.9500 or Mack Marsh in Shreveport at mmarsh@nhilc,iorg or 318.671.8131, ext. 108.

AND IF YOU LOST OR WERE FORCED LEAVE BEHIND YOUR CHAIRGo to http://latan.org/katrina/katrinaEquipment.html to see pictures and descriptions of some of the wheelchairs and scooters left at the N.O.airport. We are working with our Department of Health and Hospitals to try and locate the owners of the chairs and scooters that had identification of some sort. If you hear of anyone that is looking for one of those chairs, please send them to the website to see a picture and description, or have them call 800-270-6185.

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Awake In America has launched a relief program for victims of Hurricane Katrina, geared specifically to aid individuals who had previously been diagnosed with sleep apnea, and were receiving xPAP therapy. The program, Operation Restore CPAP http://www.AwakeInAmerica.org/Katrina/, will be available to individuals in federally-declared disaster areas who lost their xPAP equipment due to flooding. Operation Restore CPAP is a streamlined version of Awake In America's xPAP Donation and Relief Program, which was established one year ago and helped more than 100 individuals around the United States. Applications for those who lost equipment in Hurricane Katrina may be downloaded in printer-ready format (PDF) at http://www.AwakeInAmerica.org/Katrina/Application.pdf .

Plea for support! Awake In America is in urgent need of need of the following types of donations to support Operation Restore CPAP: Equipment (CPAP, bi-level, or autoPAP machines, as well as tubing, masks, and humidifiers -- heated and passover) Cash donations (to help cover the shipping costs for all the equipment, as well as printing and shipping of materials to get information about the program into the hands of individuals in need of immediate assistance)

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Free Oxygen - Apria Healthcare, located at 2198 Pass Road in Biloxi, will provide free oxygen for those in need from 10AM to 5PM daily. Please call 385-2200 for more information. (If other Apria locations also offer this - please email me.)

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Prescription Patient Assistant Programs are programs sponsored by pharmaceutical companies which offer free medications to those who qualify. These programs have been in existence for at least 8 years, and are a result of an agreement between pharmaceutical companies and Congress. These programs are for everyone whether they are elderly, disabled, un-employed, or under-paid. Our website provides instant, accurate information , and applications to apply to over 100 Programs, offering more than 1,000 brand name drugs (Zoloft, Plavix, Seroquel, Paxil, Zocor, Lipitor, Avandia, Humulin, Procrit, Compazine, Taxol, Gemzar, Celebrex, Zyban, Imitrex, Maxalt, to name a few). We also offer a toll free number for those who do not have access to the internet, or those who need personal assistance. We also encourage the patient’s physician to call our toll free number if they have any questions. We offer immediate email access through our website so that any and every question is answered. We try to pre-qualify individuals as much as possible, when we have that information available. For those who ask " these programs are free, why would I pay a service fee?". The answer is that we offer a constant support system, there is no limit to how often the patient can access our assistance. When a patient encounters a problem or has a question, we are always available. Our services at this point is strictly on a volunteer basis, the fee is an attempt to cover our costs. We will adjust the cost by a sliding scale dependent upon the patients income and many times we waive all of our  fee ($5.00/ $10.00) when we feel that it would cause an additional hardship.  http://www.freemedsandsolutions.com
Pamela Aldred, Carrie Maloney, RN 808-735-0432

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Wheelchair Distribution

Wheelchair Foundation www.wheelchairfoundation.org
As of September 10, 2005, the Wheelchair Foundation has shipped over 800 new wheelchairs to Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas with the assistance of Imperial Palace Charities, Marriott and Swift Trucking. The Florida, Nevada and California offices responded immediately with all of their available wheelchair supplies. 200 of these wheelchairs are being consigned to the Independent Living Center in Houston. An additional
2000 new wheelchairs will be ordered during the next month and will be designated to the affected areas.

Joni and Friends Wheels for the World
http://www.joniandfriends.org
As of September 8, 2005, Joni and Friends have shipped 350 wheelchairs to Louisiana. They are partnering with the Salvation Army and local churchesdistributing these wheelchairs on a need to need bases.

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EDUCATION

Uniquely Gifted
Website addressing special education issues
http://uniquelygifted.org/katrina.htm#Homeschool

COPAA (The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates) has compiled information and resources on the education rights of homeless children including those with disabilities.http://www.copaa.org/news/hurricane.html

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act provides many rights to homeless children and their families (and many responsibilities for school districts). Wrightslaw has reformatted the law so it is easy to read, print, and distribute to school district personnel, social service agencies, mental health providers, shelters, and child advocates who are responsible for these children - see McKinney-Vento Act from Wrightslaw. (PDF)

New regulations will help children with disabilities receive the services they need.
PRESS RELEASE: August 3, 2006
U.S. Dept of Education, Chad Colby or Casey Ruberg, (202) 401-1576

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced the new regulations for Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The final regulations further the president's goal that no child including each and every one of America's many students with disabilitiesis left behind. By aligning the regulations with the No Child Left Behind Act, there is a new focus on ensuring that students with disabilities are held to high expectations....

The Department has prepared a user-friendly package to help guide the public through these changes. In addition to the actual text of the regulations, the package includes an analysis of the public's comments, a summary of the major changes since publication of the proposed regulations, and several appendices, including an index and additional guidance for implementing the regulations.

Once the final regulations are published in the Federal Register, the Department will also publish and widely disseminate through its Web site a set of model forms for individualized education programs (IEPs), notices of procedural safeguards and prior written notices as required under IDEA. "I am pleased that the final regulations were completed before the new school year begins." said Spellings. "This gives parents, teachers and administrators time to become familiar with the changes prior to the start of the instructional year." To give the American people as much time as possible to review the regulations before they take effect, the Department will post an unofficial copy on its website at
http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/idea2004.html.

The official copy of these regulations will be published in the Federal Register in about two weeks. The final regulations will become effective 60 days after publication in the Federal register. A fact sheet on the new regulations can be found at http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/speced/ideafactsheet.html.

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HOUSING (Not necessarily accessible) Skip this section

Craig's List
Temporary Housing Victims can find temporary housing options here.
http://neworleans.craigslist.org/about/help/katrina_cl.html

Katrina Homes
http://www.KatrinaHomes.com

Katrina Lodging
If you have a room in your home available for anyone who is a refugee from Hurricane Katrina, please visit http://www.KatrinaLodging.net and post this information. This is affiliated with YourMilitary.com, a military support website that is getting alot of visitors who are trying to get information about their loved ones at the military installations near New Orleans.

Charles Schwab Architect AIA and Schwab Publishers
We have recently published the worlds first fully accessible (Universal designed) home plans book .Each plan is also designed with sustainable ,energy efficient design and products. Each home plan also has an optional storm safe-room.
Many of the plans are designed for agency housing with sf from 600-1500 sf. All homes are fully accessible. Please consider these designs as we rebuild with inclusive housing for all in the hurricane effected areas and around the country.
http://www.UniversalDesignOnline.com CharlesSchwab@UniversalDesignOnline.com

Mention this website and receive a $5.00 (20%) discount- usually $29.95, now $24.95.Charles Schwab is also hoping to offer any interested parties a discount or gratuity (under special circumstances and probably through the ICILS) for the actual home plans as the rebuilding process begins. He will also donate 5 % of those sales, after discount, to an ICIL of your choice. He wants any proceeds to go to that specific area.

HUD ESTABLISHES SINGLE TOLL-F