ABA Tree & RBAF Host Hurricane Helene Relief Drive for NC Autism Community

By Kami-Leigh Agard

ABA Tree and Rockaway Beach Autism Families (RBAF) are teaming up on a relief drive for the autism community devastated by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. As longtime Rockaway and Broad Channel residents know firsthand with Hurricane Sandy, rebuilding takes months to even years before a semblance of normalcy is reestablished. And for the autism community, being displaced amplifies individuals’ bodily deregulation, sensory issues and coping skills. According to Cassie Harden Scott, who lives in the area and serves on the board of the Global Autism project, and volunteers for group home, BlueWest Opportunities, many families still don’t have electricity, therapy has been put on an indefinite pause, medications are hard to access, parents already stressed haven’t been able to get clean water to drink or bathe their children, many families are still living in tents and the list goes on. So, just in time for the holidays, ABA Tree and RBAF are collecting gift cards, sanitary items, sensory items and toys to bring a smile to hard-hit autism families.

For 10 years, Harden Scott worked for the Global Autism Project as its Director of Outreach, and now serves on the board. She lives in Travelers Rest, a mountain town she describes as being located in upstate South Carolina. She’s an artist, who currently volunteers for BlueWest Opportunities, an adult group home for people with autism and other disabilities, located in North Carolina.

According to Harden Scott, people living in many small mountain towns on the North Carolina/ South Carolina border are currently only able to travel by horseback or ATV (all-terrain vehicles).

“There’s so many small mountain towns that were just absolutely destroyed. So, it’s mostly people from around here that are going in to clean up. There are still communities we can only get to by, um, by ATV or a horseback. One of the main groups I’ve worked with is BlueWest Opportunities, which is located in Swannanoa Valley, a town just 10 miles east of Asheville, one of the most devastated areas of North Carolina. Asheville got a lot more mention in the news, but there are so many little mountain towns that got totally washed away,” she said.

At BlueWest Opportunities, Harden Scott said she works with adults in their thirties and forties, and her job post Hurricane Helene is now giving them something to smile about.

“The main thing I’m doing with them is cheering them up because they lost their second building. So, the one they are living in is the only building that didn’t flood. Like, the floodwaters got close but didn’t reach that building, but they lost the other one, which residents had to evacuate. There are so many families here who are still living in tents, and I really do worry about those who have kids with disabilities that have to explain what’s going on. It’s hard especially as many of these individuals are hardwired for a routine, that no longer exists.

And now the residents don’t have their usual activities. So, when I was at the home the other day, I brought some of my musician friends to play music and then we did some art activities. The whole time, the residents were asking, ‘Why can’t we go to our horseback class? Why can’t we go to our dance class?’ Activities they were able to do are no longer possible, at least not now. They’re still getting their water delivered in the back of pickup trucks because they’re not predicting clean water for these communities until December, and it could even be longer. We’re still on advisory in those areas,” she said.

Harden Scott said the immediate needs for the autism community and the immediate area as a whole are volunteers, sanitary and building items.

“We desperately need volunteers—boots on the ground, especially in areas like Chimney Rock, Swannanoa Valley and the other little mountain towns. If your company offers volunteer days, please come on down. We don’t have many volunteers coming to this area. Plus, Visa, Home Depot or Lowe’s gift cards would be very helpful. We are in the clean-up stage, so the ability to purchase cleaning supplies are direly needed to kill mold. Also, chainsaws, pressure washers and more. Plus, there’s a call for diapers, wipes, blankets and sensory items. We get a new needs list every day,” she said.

The devastation after Hurricane Helene is still a reality for so many, with destruction covering 400 miles, and many individuals, including ones with autism, displaced from their homes. When individuals with autism are in new situations or environments, they can feel uncomfortable, anxious, or frightened. Helpful calming sensory items include: weighted blankets, bubbles, play putty, sensory balls, noise-canceling headphones, stuffed animals, fidget spinners, wind-up toys and video games. For a complete list of items needed, visit: ABA Tree or Rockaway Beach Autism Families on Facebook or Instagram.

The deadline to drop off items at ABA TREE’s office (114-12 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Suite 7) is Friday, December 6. For more info, contact ABA Tree at (347) 674-8733 or email Rockaway Beach Autism Families at kami@rockawaybeachautismfamilies.org