more info on camp

[Guest guest]

FR:

Olegario " Ollie " D. Cantos VII

Special Assistant to the Acting Assistant Attorney General

Civil Rights Division

U.S. Department of Justice

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, I wanted to write to you specifically because of your work with

or ties to individuals with developmental disabilities. Last Saturday,

I wrote you to bring you up to date on present efforts between the

federal government and leaders from the non-profit sector to coordinate

assistance to people with disabilities and their families. The ongoing

challenge has been for us to link those who need help with those who are

in a position to give it. Case in point is a current offer from an

organization serving people with autism.

The National Autism Association, through one of its supporters in

Mississippi, is offering to house up to 350 people with autism and their

families who were victimized by the ravages of Hurricane Katrina.

Located on a camp ground setting, these individuals may stay there for

up to 5 weeks, and volunteers are prepared to assist both with preparing

meals that meet appropriate dietary needs and assistance with providing

a structured environment to assist people with autism to adjust to a new

routine. The offer by the National Autism Association is driven by

volunteers, self-supported financial support, and active efforts to seek

additional community assistance from within and outside the autism

community.

Unfortunately, after the original offer was issued last week, no one has

come forward to accept this assistance as of yet. That is why, in an

effort to spread the word more extensively, I am asking you to help

either by identifying hurricane victims with autism who need assistance

or by providing the kind of assistance described in the email below.

For further information, please call Fournier, President of the

National Autism Society, toll-free at or by email at

wendy@...wendy@...>.

You are by all means welcome to forward this to others who may benefit

from receiving it. Let us each continue to do our part.

--Ollie

=====

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:

Fournier

Phone:

Cell:

wendy@...wendy@...>

Peg Pickering can be reached at .

Thank you for your assistance!

Warm wishes,

Fournier, President

National Autism Association

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Olegario D. Cantos VII

Special Assistant to the Acting Assistant Attorney General

Civil Rights Division

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 5529

Washington, DC 20530

Voice:

TDD:

Fax:

Email: Ollie.Cantos@...Ollie.Cantos@...>

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