After Hurricane Milton鈥檚 impact on the Tampa Bay area, the American Red Cross Disaster Disability Integration team contacted the on behalf of families in local shelters. Families who have children on the autism spectrum needed assistance during this difficult time, and the CARD staff jumped into action to provide resources and sensory relief items.
The team puts together sensory items and safety kits.
CARD provided Distract Paks, which are filled with sensory items such as noise-canceling headphones, fidgets, and activities. Additionally, the team provided safety kits, which contain safeguards such as battery-operated door alarms, poison prevention cabinet locks, and medication lock boxes. CARD Consultant Olivia Macdonald assisted a family by preparing a social story and visuals to help a child better understand their current living situation.
CARD also collaborated with its longtime community partner . The organization's annual drive Holiday Smiles provides gifts for individuals with disabilities and their families around the holidays. The group provided CARD Assistant Director Christine Rover with games, puzzles, sensory sand, dinosaur toys, plush socks, and hygiene products to give to the families.
鈥淭his was an amazing opportunity for CARD to collaborate with community organizations and to help make this very difficult time a little easier for some of our families,鈥� said Rover. 鈥淲e create our safety kits and Distract Paks to meet the needs of our families year-round and with the addition of the and customized visuals, we were pleased that these resources could be used by several families."
CARD staff participate in hurricane and disability action plan meetings throughout the year with various local, state, and national partners, including the American Red Cross. Funds donated to the allow CARD to purchase and distribute safety kits, Distract Paks, and Josh the Baby Otter water safety curriculum to the autism community.
If your family is still in need of resources during your storm recovery, reach out to CARD at 813-974-2532 or card-usf@usf.edu.