REDD promotes healthy relationships, healthy lives, and healthy outcomes.
The Research Education Disability and Disasters (REDD) goal is to facilitate better awareness and knowledge of how to support people with disabilities before, during, and after disaster events.
The Texas Center for Disability Studies partners with Texas A&M University, the Administration on Community Living, and the University of New Mexico’s Center for Development and Disability on various disaster/disability-related projects.
Disability Studies at the University of Texas at Austin created Project ReDiscovery. The purpose of ReDiscovery is to provide training, technical assistance, and educational materials on long-term recovery services and resources for individuals with disabilities and other access and functional needs affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Through ReDiscovery, TCDS hopes to support the needs of individuals with disabilities recovering from Hurricane Harvey.
ReDiscovery training is designed for:
- disaster case managers
- disability-related organizations
- emergency personnel
- long-term recovery committees
- voluntary organizations active in disaster
- community- based partners
- and other organizations, when requested, who serve Hurricane Harvey survivors in any of the 41 federally-declared disaster counties in Texas.
Past projects include:
- development of an online tool to house resources supporting people with disabilities during and after disaster events.
- Adaptation of the First Responder Tips to a portable and waterproof reference tool.
- Development of a resource to house emergency medical information including medication and emergency contacts.