EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. PASS IT ON.
I dont normally do these things...and if I were you, I probally wouldnt read it. But I'm asking you to. This is SUCH an important factor, that I myself--as a Special Education Advocate didnt think about until now. Please be aware of these children/adults, and keep them in your prayers. Thank you!
For more information, contact:
Ron & Sharon Oberleitner
AutismCares™
(888) 355-7161
CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AFFECTED BY KATRINA FINDING HELP THROUGH AUTISM LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS
AUTISM COMMUNITY RALLIES TOGETHER TO FORM AUTISMCARES
BOISE, IDAHO - September 6, 2005 - More than 10 national autism leadership organizations have come together to form AutismCares, a nationwide disaster relief effort that will potentially assist thousands of Katrina families living with autism.
To address the most immediate needs, ”AutismCares - Katrina” is coordinating support for the unique needs of families affected by autism through facilitating temporary / permanent relocation support, mobilizing specialty assistance teams and providing autism-conscious supplies directly to these families and the professionals caring for them.
(Organizations should consider using two quotes below this remark, three suggested quotes are given below)
1. "We recognize the huge numbers of families whose children struggle with autism and how their trauma is compounded by this disaster. It’s incomprehensible to imagine the extreme hardships they're facing with each passing hour, day and night, as they attempt to care for their children," said Ron Oberleitner, volunteer operations manager for AutismCares and parent of a child with autism.
2. "Think about what you could pack into your one car to flee as quickly as possible with your family. That's all these families have right now," said Shelley Hendrix Reynolds of Unlocking Autism, who is coordinating her organization’s involvement in Katrina-stricken Baton Rouge.
"I cannot imagine being in a shelter with a child with autism, being relocated in another home for nearly a week with comfortable surroundings was difficult enough. Overstimulation for these children in one of these centers is just not the word."
3. “AutismCares was born out of the compassion that members of the autism community have for one another,” explained Peter Bell, CEO of Cure Autism Now, one of the leading autism research organizations to become involved in this effort. “Many of us know first-hand how challenging it is to care for a child with autism. Add on top of that a natural disaster like Katrina that strips a family of everything they have and it’s a recipe for yet another disaster.”
Autism is one of the fastest growing and prevalent childhood disorders in the United States, affecting as many as one in every 166 children (source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that interferes with normal development in language, intuitive thought, social interaction and an ability to connect with the surroundings. Approximately half of all children with autism are unable to communicate their needs using spoken words. Most are unable to accommodate for changes in their daily routines. Associated problems include hyperactivity, self-injurious behavior, sleeplessness, eating disorders and gastrointestinal problems. Order and consistently administered therapeutic interventions are critical to the affected child's and family's well being.
According to Katrina victim, Sheila L. Ealey, her six-year-old son has regressed significantly since Katrina hit. "Temple was receiving extensive behavioral and biomedical therapies and was doing so well. He was mainstreamed with an aide half day in a regular kindergarten with intensive services in the afternoon. He is now flapping, stimming, banging his head, hitting me, crying and making strange noises. It's so sad to see all of the work that has gone into the last four years for him leave within a week of being without therapy and his familiar surroundings."
To address long-term needs, AutismCares will advocate and implement proactive rehabilitation and assistance programs in an effort to help these families begin to rebuild their lives. AutismCares effort will be collaborating with officials from relief agencies including the American Red Cross and Salvation Army.
The following links have been established:
AutismCares Web Site - Objectives of the initiative, partners of the coalition, newsroom with contact information.
Victim's Assistance - Families dealing with autism needing help (coordinated within Unlocking Autism).
In-kind Donations - May include transportation, accommodations in a home, therapy, respite, or products for care packages. All requests will be followed up by an advocate.
Specialty team volunteers - Possibly go down to Katrina-affected areas if needed.
Donations - Collections go to the current autism disaster relief effort (collected by Cure Autism Now).
"We are so lost as a family," Ealey said . "I grew up in New Orleans, raised an older daughter there and now raising my three youngest ones. I had dedicated the last two years to developing and financing a school for autistic children, which ironically was to begin the day Katrina stormed through. As I watched CNN, I saw my school go underwater," she explained. "My heart is broken as with so many others. My husband and I have felt very alone as we desperately began looking to relocate our family permanently. I am grateful for the kindness being offered through AutismCares."
Autism leadership organizations participating in the relief effort through AutismCares include:
Autism Organizations Autism Society of America (ASA) www.autism-society.org Autism Speaks www.autismspeaks.org
The New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community (COSAC)
www.njcosac.org Cure Autism Now (CAN) www.cureautismnow.com The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation www.dougflutiejrfoundation.org First Signs www.firstsigns.org
The National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR)
www.naar.org
Organization for Autism Research (OAR)
www.researchautism.org Princeton Autism Technology (PAT) www.autismtechnology.org
The Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC)
www.autismcenter.org TalkAutism www.talkautism.org Unlocking Autism www.unlockingautism.org Other Organizations Visual String www.visualstring.com