Information for people with disabilities and their families who have
been affected by Hurricane Katrina.

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
September 3, 2005
Contact:
Wendy Fournier, NAA (RI) 401-632-7523
Peg Pickering, (MS) 622-488-9619

Mississippi Emergency Shelter Available For Hurricane Victims with Autism, Developmental Disabilities

The National Autism Association (NAA) Requests Help from Local Authorities

Toccopola, MS - Peg Pickering, the mother of an autistic child, has offered to provide emergency housing for families of children with autism and other developmental disorders at Camp Yocona in Toccopola, MS. The camp can accommodate up to 350 people in cabins that can sleep up to 8 people each. Each group of 4-5 cabins has a bathhouse. A large commercial kitchen and dining hall is available and a volunteer will be staffing the kitchen to prepare meals including gluten and casein free options for children on
restricted diets.

"The camp will provide a healing environment for parents and children alike, offering a place of solace and shelter while the families regroup and decide where to go from here," commented Pickering who is coordinating this effort.

Volunteers are needed at evacuation sites to help identify children with autism and their families and let them know that assistance is available.

According to NAA Executive Director Jo Pike, "Children with autism have very special needs. A simple disruption in routine can be devastating to them. We are calling on local authorities and relief organizations to help us locate these families as quickly as possible."

Anyone with information on families of children with developmental disabilities needing shelter as a result of the hurricane and its aftermath are asked to contact the National Autism Association toll free at 866-622-6733, or Peg Pickering at 662-488-9619.

Tax-deductible donations to assist with this effort can be made online at
http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/proddetail.php?prod=Katrina

Checks can be mailed to:
First United Methodist Church of Pontotoc
Good Samaritan Autism Fund
P.O. Box 308
Pontotoc, MS 38863

In addition to monetary donations, the camp is in need of twin-size bed
linens, towels, washcloths, toiletries, toothbrushes and toothpaste,
diapers, wipes, etc. Donations of these items can be shipped to:

ASD KATRINA RESCUE
C/O Peg Pickering
2901 Highway 9 South
Pontotoc, MS 38863

 

Peg Pickering, the mother of a child with autistm, has arranged for emergency housing for children with autism and their families at Camp Yocona in Toccopola, MS.

This Boy Scout camp can accommodate up to 350 people in cabins that sleep 8. Each group of 4-5 cabins has a bathhouse. A very large commercial kitchen and dining hall is also available and will be staffed by a cook specializing in Gluten and Casein free foods, as many children with autism are on restricted diets. It has a very large amount of refigeration and freezer space. The camp will be available for a minimum of 5 weeks. It is located off of Highway 334.

We are in need of assistance in the following areas:

1. Identifying children with autism in the evacuation shelters and letting their families know that housing is availbable for them at the camp. Is it possible to instruct all of the shelters to make an announcement asking for families with children with autism to identify themselves? I am attaching a pdf flier that can be posted in the shelters.

2. Transporting families from the shelters to the camp. Could we get vans/busses donated for this purpose?

3. Designating the camp as an official shelter worthy of assistance from the Red Cross, FEMA, etc.

4. Stocking the camp with supplies.

5. Providing Special Education teachers, Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapists.

6. Medical Staffing - many kids are prone to seizures, need meds, etc.

Supplies needed:

* Gluten/Casein free foods
* Organic Fruit and Vegetables
* Organic Meats
* Bottled Water
* 350 Twin Sheet Sets, pillows, pillow cases, blankets
* Towels and Washclothes - 700 each
* Kitchen towels, linens
* Paper Towels, toilet tissue, personal care items, deodorant, soap, shampoo, razors, sanitary napkins, tampons, paper cups, underwear for children and adults, we have lots of clothing but no underwear.
* 200 packages of Diapers and pullups in all sizes
* 200 packages of baby wipes
* Dish soap
* Cleaning supplies
* Dishpans

We will need some sort of entertainment for these children:
TV, VCR's, DVD players, swings, basketball hoop/basketballs, etc.

We have heard that there are some children with autism at Columbus AFB and possibly at Lafayette Convention Center - the special needs families are separated there, we have been told.

I will post the press release that we sent out last night below for further information.

Please do not hesitate to contact me day or night to help with these efforts. Here is my contact information:

Wendy Fournier
Phone: 866-622-6733
Cell: 401-635-7523
wendy@nationalautism.org

Peg Pickering can be reached at 662-509-0599.

Thank you for your assistance!

Warm wishes,

Wendy Fournier, President
National Autism Association