For Immediate Release Contact: Kaaryn Sanon, Communications Manager

August 28, 2006 202.408.9514 x122 s press@ndrn.org

One Year Later, People with Disabilities Still Left in Wake

of Hurricane Katrina

While Recovery Progresses Slowly, People with Disabilities Still Face Unique Challenges

WASHINGTON – Individuals with disabilities – who are also disproportionately among the poorest of the poor – were among the hardest hit groups by Hurricane Katrina. One year later, people with disabilities still face challenges in receiving the supports and services necessary to return to their pre-hurricane level of self-sufficiency.

“While navigating the system of government and private recovery support can be overwhelming for any survivors of disaster, it can be even more so for individuals with disabilities,” said Decker, executive director of the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN). “Our state Protection & Advocacy agencies continue to work tirelessly to identify individuals with disabilities affected by Hurricane Katrina and assist them in re-establishing the necessary supports and services to rebuild their lives.”

NDRN is a part of the Katrina Aid Today initiative – a consortium of nine social service and voluntary organizations, led by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, dedicated to helping survivors navigate the system to recover from this tragic disruption of their lives.

State P&As focus on long-term recovery and comprehensive case management with individuals and their families. Client needs are complex, with over 800 new cases opened in just this past quarter. Accessible, affordable housing, transportation, and services – such as Medicaid waiver – have been the most often noted areas in long-term recovery, with the continuation of services from one state to another in the resettlement process being critical. The following examples provide a glimpse of the Katrina-related work done by the P&As along the Gulf Coast:

· A woman in the New Orleans area who lost everything due to Katrina has, with the help of her KAT case manager: 1) moved from her daughter’s home to an affordable HUD-subsidized apartment; 2) appealed her FEMA denial; 3) obtained furniture for the apartment; and 4) obtained a shower chair and raised toilet seat to make her apartment more accessible.

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· In Mississippi, a client named Maxine became very depressed because she could find no one to help her with cleanup and gutting of her house. Her case manager encouraged her to sign up on church volunteer work lists in her community. A gentleman named “Bill,” who is a member of Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Ala., joined the mission team that went to Maxine’s house to clean up debris and removed the flooring in her home. In meeting Maxine, Bill was inspired and created Team Maxine to put together a team of volunteers to completely rebuild the inside of Maxine’s small house and make it fully accessible for her. Bill has gone to great lengths in planning this project, and hopes that the groups’ efforts will not stop with Maxine’s repairs and rebuilding, but will continue as an ongoing mission through rebuilding on the Gulf Coast for individuals with disabilities and economic needs.

· In Alabama, a Viet Nam veteran who is legally blind, has diabetes, hepatitis C and numerous other medical conditions was referred from FEMA and the KAT/NDRN affiliate in Louisiana. He had been living in Mobile, Ala., but was in Louisiana’s Veterans Hospital, and evacuated to Mississippi’s Veterans Hospital. Later, the client moved to a FEMA trailer in Mobile, Ala. The Alabama P&A was instrumental in finding him a rental home and financial assistance for utility deposits, furniture, and transportation.

· In Texas, a young woman living alone for the first time received assistance in maintaining safety in her apartment; working with Social Security to retrieve a deposit that was sent to someone else without her knowledge; and appealing for FEMA housing.

P&As across the nation are involved in providing case management services through Katrina Aid Today to evacuees with disabilities in their state. To contact the P&A in your state, please visit www.ndrn.org or call 202-408-9514.

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The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the Network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the humanitarian relief and development agency of the United Methodist Church, a worldwide denomination. For 65 years, UMCOR has alleviated human suffering by providing practical support to survivors of natural and civil disasters, without regard to a survivor’s religion, race, gender or national origin.