USSAAC Sets Up Website for Hurricane Harvey Victims with Severe Disabilities

For Immediate Release

Publicity Contacts:

Wendy Brickman

[email protected] 

(831) 594-1500                                                                   

Additional information/interviews:

Harvey Pressman

[email protected] 

(831)649-3050

Important resource website established for people with severe disabilities who are unable to speak and are among the hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey:https://harveyaac.recovers.org

September 1, 2017. Monterey, CA. People with severe disabilities who are unable to speak are among the hardest hit by disasters like Hurricane Harvey. They get separated from their helpers, lose access to their speech-generating devices and their low-tech tools, get their batteries destroyed, get relocated to places where helpers are clueless about communicating with them, etc.  Fortunately, a national organization devoted to the support of such people has stepped up with a unique approach to connecting these people with resources and experts who can provide immediate help and support.

Recovers.org is a web portal that enables people in need during disasters to make specific requests for support, people who want to help to describe the skills they can bring to bear, and people who want to contribute money and resources to do so by one click on their computer. The site has been used successfully for past hurricanes like Sandy, tornadoes like the one that hit Moore, Oklahoma, and for countless other incidents. Now it is being put to the test to help people who are too often the hardest to reach and the last to get help.

The United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (USSAAC) has set up a targeted Recovers.org web site that enables people with disabilities who can't use their natural speech and rely on other ways to communicate to make requests for specific help to connect to people who are able to help them. USSAAC has already received a ten thousand dollar matching grant to support these efforts.

USSAAC is an all-volunteer organization which is devoting 100% of funds that are contributed to Harvey recovery efforts. You can find out more about their activities at https://www.ussaac.org/.

People who need help, people who want to help them, and those who want to contribute matching funds to this effort can go tohttps://harveyaac.recovers.org/

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Two sentences: The United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication has set up a website that enables people with disabilities who can't use their natural speech and rely on other ways to communicate to make requests for specific help to connect to people who are able to help them. People who need help and people who want to help them can go tohttps://harveyaac.recovers.org/

Three sentences: People with severe disabilities who are unable to speak are among the hardest hit by disasters like Hurricane Harvey. The United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication has set up a website that enables people with disabilities who can't use their natural speech and rely on other ways to communicate to make requests for specific help to connect to people who are able to help them. People who need help and people who want to help them can go to https://harveyaac.recovers.org/ 

Paragraph: People with severe disabilities who are unable to speak are among the hardest hit by disasters like Hurricane Harvey. They get separated from their helpers, lose access to their speech-generating devices and their low-tech tools, get their batteries destroyed, get relocated to places where helpers are clueless about communicating with them, etc.  The United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication has set up a website that enables people with disabilities who can't use their natural speech and rely on other ways to communicate to make requests for specific help to connect to people who are able to help them. People who need help and people who want to help them can go to https://harveyaac.recovers.org/