Resources for Supporting Students who have Experienced Natural Disasters
RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
Natural Disasters and Relocated Students with Special Needs: Recommendations for Receiving Schools
The resource produced by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) provides recommendations to schools that are receiving students with disabilities who have been relocated as a result of a natural disaster.
New Schools for Students with Disabilities: Tips for Relocated Families
This NASP resource provides information for families with students with disabilities who are relocating. It reviews the educational rights and records for these students.
Resources for Helping Your Family Cope with an Emergency (ADHD)
This resource is provided by Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) and addresses the topic of coping with emergencies when a family has a child with ADHD. Additionally, a list of articles and national resources are linked which may be helpful for families.
http://www.chadd.org/Understanding-ADHD/About-ADHD/ADHD-Weekly/Article.aspx?id=388
Disaster, Trauma, and ADHD
This article provided by CHADD discusses the impact of trauma on children with ADHD and offers suggestions for coping with trauma effectively.
http://www.chadd.org/Understanding-ADHD/About-ADHD/ADHD-Weekly/Article.aspx?id=389
Supporting Students with Autism and other Developmental Disabilities through Social Stories©
The following Social Stories© were developed by Carol Gray to support individuals with Autism that have experienced a tragedy such as the recent hurricane in Houston. Below are links to several pertinent Social Stories©.
- http://carolgraysocialstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2.-Safety-Wherever-I-Go-Girl.pdf
- http://carolgraysocialstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/1.-Safety-Wherever-I-Go-Boy.pdf
- http://carolgraysocialstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/3.-What-Is-a-Tragedy.pdf
Augmentative Communication Devices
The United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, the US chapter of a professional organization for professionals who serve students who use augmentative communication, has created a recovery fund to replace communication devices.
https://harveyaac.recovers.org/
Translation & Interpretation Services Stipends Available
The Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities (TCDD) has funds available to support translation and interpretation services to reduce linguistic barriers to access services and supports in Texas. These stipends may be useful for organizations that serve communities that have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
Rehab Service Volunteer Project
Rehabilitation Services Volunteer Project (RSVP) is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that provides physical rehabilitation services and equipment to uninsured individuals with disabilities. The medical equipment division (RSVP-MED) provides durable medical equipment (such as wheelchairs, bathroom equipment, and walkers) to individuals in our community with disabilities (regardless of diagnosis) who lack access to this equipment.
http://rsvptexas.org/maps-contact/
Be an Angel
This organization provides children with multiple disabilities or profound deafness needed adaptive equipment and select services to improve their quality of life. This organization supports families to address the challenges of caring for a special needs child and provide personal equipment to children from low-income families.
Variety of Texas
Variety: Children’s Charity of Texas, is dedicated to empowering children with special needs. Through the Heart of Variety Fund, they provide financial assistance directly to children with special needs, serving hundreds of children with life-saving surgical procedures, customized wheelchair accessible vans, service dogs, wheelchairs, or anything that might empower a child with special needs to live a move full life. Variety also serves thousands of children every year at Variety's Peaceable Kingdom Retreat for Children (VPKRC), a fully accessible retreat in the heart of the Hill Country for children with special needs.
Texas Computer Educators Association
TCEA has indicated that they would like to help match schools and classrooms in need with schools who wish to help from throughout Texas. They are providing this link to help schools who have a need match up with schools who want to help. If you have a need, please complete the form to allow other classrooms throughout the state to provide the assistance needed.
https://www.tcea.org/blog/hurricane-harvey-adopt-class
RESOURCES FOR ALL STUDENTS:
Region 4 ESC
Region 4 has compiled links to resources to support recovery from Hurricane Harvey.
http://www.esc4.net/disaster-recovery-support/region-4-disaster-recovery-relief
Texas Education Agency
TEA has compiled resources to support schools and parents in the recovery process.
http://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/Other_Services/Weather_and_Disaster/Hurricane_Harvey_Resources/
Center for School Behavioral Health Disaster Relief Resources
Though not specific to students with disabilities, resources on this website offer Houston treatment options, hurricane/flood specific documents and general disaster supports for children (including Spanish versions).
http://mhahouston.org/disaster-relief-resources/
Natural Disasters: Brief Facts and Tips
This link also features a printable PDF (available in Spanish) from the NASP.
Helping Children after a National Disaster - Information for Educators and Families:
This article and printable PDF from NASP provides information for parents and teachers about actions to take immediately following a natural disaster. Issues with specific disasters and possible reactions of children and youth at various ages are also outlined.
Helping Children after Natural Disasters
Colorín Colorado is a bilingual site for educators and families of English Language Learners based in Washington, D.C. that has specific, updated resources posted to offer guidance to families and schools related to natural disasters and some posted specific to Hurricane Harvey listed under Featured Resources.
http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/helping-children-after-natural-disaster
Coping with National Disasters
This website features free lesson sharing funded by the American Federation of Teachers. Built by educators across the country, it brings together a community of teachers, paraprofessionals, school related personnel, parents, and partners to provide resources. The devastation and loss of life from events such as hurricanes or a tornado can be emotionally damaging to children. These resources will help you and your students understand and cope with natural disasters. The lesson plans are grouped by topic, subject and grade level and include resources from a variety of agencies.
Note: You must sign-up for a free membership to access these lesson plans. They are NOT screened and are contributed by authors under creative commons from across the United States.
https://sharemylesson.com/collections/coping-natural-disasters
Helping Kids Cope with National Disasters
This is a website from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) based out of Virginia. They provide resources for educators about all subjects connected to the environment; they have a section focusing on how to help kids cope with national disasters.
http://www.nwf.org/Eco-Schools-USA/Become-an-Eco-School/Hurricane-Sandy/Helping-Kids-Cope.aspx
