Repost (OT): Please open your homes to hurricane victims with autism

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone! :-)

I forgot to include Libby's address yesterday, in my posts; Libby's email

address is:

rupp5102@...

I would like to offer a heartfelt " Thank you! " to everyone who has already

offered support. In addition, I have thanked everyone who replied to me

personally, or on a list, and have forwarded their information to Libby. I

still believe that this is a GREAT IDEA to help families with autistic

children who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina. I am forwarding

this message with permission. Permission is given to forward this post

freely to any group that you think might help.

Dear listmates -

I am organizing a group of families that are willing to host families

with autistic children or adults that have been affected by the

hurricane.

These people will be homeless for quite sometime. Their children

need safe, comforting places to live. They need to have access to

schools so that they can get the therapy they need. Their parents

need a home who understands their special needs. Most importantly,

they need this as quickly as possible.

I know many of us are at or near our breaking points, but can you

imagine managing your autistic child in the Astrodome with thousands

of people? These families need our help.

It will be hard, but we can do more.

Identifying these families will be challenging, but I want to have a

network established so that we can get them into homes as soon as

they are identified. I have told Unlocking Autism about my efforts.

Addtionally, my sister-in-law has been deployed on the USS Comfort

and I have her and her colleagues on the look out for these families.

If you are willing to be a host family, please email me privately

with your contact information (name, phone number, email, location

and how many people you feel you can accommodate). I will not

release your private information to anyone without your consent.

Thank you for help.

Most sincerely,

Libby Rupp (mom to Isabella, 4, ASD)

Email: rupp5102@...