July, August and September 2024
Same Direction; Different Director
I am Jacki Pierce and I am excited to introduce myself as the new Executive Director of Bayou Land Families Helping Families. BLFHF’s former Executive Director, Dr. Charlie Michel, has been a beacon of knowledge and a voice for the disabled community, including individuals with disabilities, parents and caregivers, and professionals. I believe I can speak for our community when I say that we wish him the best in his retirement and that he will be dearly missed.
I was born and raised in South Lafourche’s small bayou town of Galliano, where both of my parents were educators who were very active in the community. Shortly after marrying my husband, Scott, in 2002, we moved away to Washington, D.C., where he served as a Marine in The Commandant’s Own United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. We always planned on moving back home (because there is no place like it) and returned to Louisiana in 2013. Together we have three girls and a son-in-law; our only son is an angel. My experiences—both in work and life—have fostered a strong foundation and understanding of not only of the civil rights afforded to individuals with disabilities, but also of the frustrations, disheartenment, and life modifications that come with a diagnosed disability.
The staff at Bayou Land Families Helping Families are excellent at what they do. This is evident because our local university and a local school system sought out two of our staff members for employment. Our staff have ample personal experience dealing with the struggles and uncertainties of being a family member of an individual with a disability. It is this common experience that enables us to not only educate professionals and families, but to empower them by providing support, information, and sometimes a little fun to make their journey a bit easier.
Although there is a change in director, the direction of Bayou Land is steadfast—we are, and will continue to be, of service to our families in Region 3. When you don’t know where to turn, turn to us. It’s who we are. It’s what we do.
Hurricane Preparedness
With tropical activity already rearing its head in the Gulf, now is a great time to brush up on emergency preparedness information. Unfortunately, preparing for emergency events, like hurricanes, are taxing on families of individuals with disabilities. Disasters can occur with little to no warning, but with hurricanes, there is usually some time to prepare. In this article, you will find helpful tips for emergency preparedness for families of individuals with disabilities and medical needs.
The first step for preparedness is to decide to make a plan. While planning, keep your and your family’s best interests in mind—what works for some may not work for all. Whether you decide to evacuate or not, you should plan for at least 3 days of self-reliance; make sure you have food, water, and supplies to stay safe and healthy. To plan for possible power outages, you may need flashlights and batteries, blankets/sleeping bags, clothing, and chargers for medical equipment and electronic devices. If there is reliance on medication and medical equipment, it may be in your best interest to plan for 7-10 with these items. Pharmacies may not be open and medical equipment delivery vehicles may be unable to travel the roads safely through affected areas. Speak with your doctor and/or venders to get extra medication and supplies.
Sample Emergency Kit Supply List
Water: 1 gal. per person per day for 3 days
Local maps
Food: 3 day supply of non -perishables (can opener)
Matches in waterproof containers
Portable radio
Extra clothing, shoes, and work gloves
Flashlights
Medications, formula, supplements, glasses, hearing aids, additional medical supplies (tubing, bags, etc.)
Spare batteries for devices and hearing aids
Cash
Chargers for phones and electronic devices
Important documents in waterproof bag (i.e. insurance information, medical records, bank account info, social security numbers, care plans, etc.)
First Aid kit and manual
Pet food, equipment, medicines
Whistle to call for help
Supplies: trash bags, blankets, duct tape, zip ties, etc.
Toiletries and hygiene products
Toys, games, books, and other comfort items for children and adults
Pliers/wrench to turn off water and gas lines
Be sure to make a list of important phone numbers, addresses, and prescription information, and practice how to contact family and/or friends during an emergency. You may want to review an evacuation plan with a few locations to evacuate—be sure to plan for your pets too! Feel free to reach out to your community for support. Here are a few questions to ask your local emergency officials to learn more preparing for a hurricane emergency with a disability:
Who qualifies for assisted transportation to shelters?
Who qualifies for special needs assistance?
What happens if the parish’s shelter reaches capacity?
How do you sign up for special needs evacuation assistance?
Could there be a delay or wait if I need special needs evacuation assistance via ambulance?
How do you sign up for transportation assistance other than special needs?
What is the process for using transportation assistance?
Do you have a reverse 911 system that will contact me when the parish calls for mandatory evacuation?
How do I sign up for that?
Does the parish have an emergency radio station that will provide emergency information?
Fun Doesn’t Have to Come with a Fee
With the increasing costs of living, it has become even more difficult for families to find fun and inexpensive ways to keep themselves occupied and engaged during the summer months, especially when disabilities are involved. I have some great news for you—fun doesn’t have to cost a thing! There are several community-based programs in place available to local resident completely free of charge.
For example, local libraries often have camps, classes, and other programs and partnerships that are open to the public (free of charge). Feel free to visit your parish’s library website to find family-friendly activities, along with other individual activities for anyone in the family. The links below will take you to each parish’s published calendar.
Region 3 Parish Libraries Website Calendar
Assumption https://assumptionlibrary.com/calendar/
Lafourche https://lafourche.librarycalendar.com/events/upcoming
St. Charles https://www.myscpl.org/events/month
St. John the Baptist https://stjohnlib.librarycalendar.com/events/month
Terrebonne https://mytpl.libcal.com/calendars?cid=-1&t=m&d=0000-00-00&cal=-
If you would prefer to do something in the comfort of your home, some libraries and other local organizations prepare craft activity kits for children to take home. Other fun activities at home include tag/hide-and-seek, shadow puppets, dance parties, and book reading to name a few. If you get tired of sidewalk chalk, the hose pipe, or bubbles, here are a few websites that have wonderful suggestions for free activities for families with special needs.
Disability Etiquette: Creating Inclusive and Respectful Environments
Disability etiquette involves understanding and practicing respectful behavior towards people with disabilities. It includes using appropriate language, offering assistance without being intrusive, and recognizing the diverse needs of individuals. Together, we can create inclusive environments where everyone feels valued and respected. This guide explores essential principles of disability etiquette, helping to break down barriers and promote positive interactions.
Ask before you help. If you offer and the person with a disability accepts, follow their instructions. They know their capabilities.
Do not touch, pat or grab. No one wants to be touched without consent, including people with disabilities. Do not touch, grab, or guide them or their wheelchair, scooter or cane without permission.
Speak directly to the person with a disability. Also, remember that most people, including those with disabilities, would rather not discuss their bodies or medical history with people they just met.
Avoid making assumptions. People with disabilities are the best judge of what they can or cannot do.
Be open to requests for access or accommodation. Ensuring your business is accessible and committing to reasonable accommodations upon request showcases excellent customer service and dedication to all members of your community.
Use respectful, person-first language. Avoid saying handicapped or wheelchair bound. Instead, say person with a disability or wheelchair user.
Provide a clear path of travel. Ensure there are no obstacles that could hinder or trip people with physical disabilities or visual impairments.
Welcome service animals. By law, service or support animals can accompany their handlers anywhere they go. If the animals are not well-behaved and harnessed, leashed, or tethered, you may ask the owner to remove them.
Remember, some disabilities are invisible. People with autism or intellectual disabilities may process information differently than you do, so be patient and understanding when communicating with them.
Be respectful. People with disabilities are individuals with families, jobs, hobbies, likes and dislikes, and problems and joys. While their disability is integral to their identity, it does not define them. Don’t make them into heroes or victims.
For more information about Disability etiquette visit Disability Etiquette - United Spinal Association
What if Your Baby is Behind Milestones?
Parents tend to ask What does it means when my child is behind on milestones? You are not a failure, and your child is not failing. It can be scary to realize your child is way behind on some of these milestones. But there are lots of supports that can help your child improve their developmental skills. Many kids who have
developmental delays catch up to their peers with a little help. Every child develops differently at their own pace. Milestones are part of the development of child It is important to understand child development milestones so you can understand if your child is on track. There are 3 steps into getting the support you need; Use a developmental screener, ask your pediatrician, and get your child evaluated. Acting early can help your child catch up and do their best.
Click on the link for more information: https://exceptionallives.org/blog/what-if-baby-is-behind-milestones/
How Does Summer Break Affect Students with Learning Disabilities?
Summer is a fun-filled time for kids of all ages! No school means no work and more time to play! Still, we as parents want the best for our kids and try to keep them educationally having fun during the summer with camps or by doing at home activities! We worry that our children will not retain all they have learned the past year in the next year to come. This is especially hard when it comes to our children with exceptionalities. This article talks about how the summer holidays affect our students with learning disabilities and why it is so important that we try to do a little bit of our own teaching over the summer.
How to Plan the Best Summer Schedule for Kids
Summer comes with many challenges when it comes to our kids! They’re off on their two-month holiday where they fall into new habits and routines that differ from their school routine. For kids with special needs this may cause anxiety, stress, and frustration. So how do we lessen the blow and help maintain some semblance of structure in our child’s summer holiday? This This article will guide us through ways we can make the most fun yet structured schedule for our kids this summer.
How to Continue Special Education Progress Over the Summer
Summer regression is not an uncommon thing for children to experience during their big summer break, schools out and the fun has begun! For other children the need to retain the things they learned in the previous school year are crucial for their progress in the next year! So how can we help our children with special education needs? This article guides parents in the right direction on ways that can help them make the transition from school to summer at home much easier!
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