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Perry</a></dd><dt>Publish date:</dt><dd class="m-detail-header--meta-item"><time itemprop="datePublished" datetime="2017-08-29T06:00:00-07:00" phx-live-date="2017-08-29T13:00:00Z" title="2017-08-29T13:00:00Z">Aug 29, 2017</time></dd><dt>Social count:</dt><dd class="m-detail-header--meta-item m-detail-header--meta-interaction-count" itemprop="interactionCount" item-id="ci021372832000273a" item-timestamp="2017-08-29T13:00:00Z" phx-fresh-social-stats="aggregate">9991</dd></dl></div></div></div></header><div class="m-detail--abstract">An interview with Paul Timmons, co-founder of a non-profit that helps the most vulnerable escape from natural disasters.</div><section class="m-social"><ul><li class="m-social--interaction-count"><div class="m-social--interaction-count-num" phx-fresh-social-stats="aggregate" item-id="ci021372832000273a" item-timestamp="2017-08-29T13:00:00Z">10K</div><div class="m-social--interaction-count-label">SHARES</div></li><li class="m-social--facebook"><phx-social-share-button medium="facebook" url="https://psmag.com/social-justice/saving-disabled-people-during-hurricane-harvey" title="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" text="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" subject="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" body="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey. An interview with Paul Timmons, co-founder of a non-profit that helps the most vulnerable escape from natural disasters." image="https://psmag.com/.image/t_share/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.jpg"><a class="m-social--button m-icon-button" aria-label="facebook" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Link facebook"><svg class="m-svg m-icon-button--icon"><use xlink:href="/assets-global/icons/svg-sprite.svg?v=2018-02-12-194626-09a8539-008481#ico_facebook" phx-svg-fallback></use></svg></a></phx-social-share-button></li><li class="m-social--linkedin"><phx-social-share-button medium="linkedin" url="https://psmag.com/social-justice/saving-disabled-people-during-hurricane-harvey" title="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" text="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" subject="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" body="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey. An interview with Paul Timmons, co-founder of a non-profit that helps the most vulnerable escape from natural disasters." image="https://psmag.com/.image/t_share/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.jpg"><a class="m-social--button m-icon-button" aria-label="linkedin" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Link linkedin"><svg class="m-svg m-icon-button--icon"><use xlink:href="/assets-global/icons/svg-sprite.svg?v=2018-02-12-194626-09a8539-008481#ico_linkedin" phx-svg-fallback></use></svg></a></phx-social-share-button></li><li class="m-social--instagram"><phx-social-share-button medium="instagram" url="https://psmag.com/social-justice/saving-disabled-people-during-hurricane-harvey" title="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" text="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" subject="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" body="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey. An interview with Paul Timmons, co-founder of a non-profit that helps the most vulnerable escape from natural disasters." image="https://psmag.com/.image/t_share/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.jpg"><a class="m-social--button m-icon-button" aria-label="instagram" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Link instagram"><svg class="m-svg m-icon-button--icon"><use xlink:href="/assets-global/icons/svg-sprite.svg?v=2018-02-12-194626-09a8539-008481#ico_instagram" phx-svg-fallback></use></svg></a></phx-social-share-button></li><li class="m-social--twitter"><phx-social-share-button medium="twitter" url="https://psmag.com/social-justice/saving-disabled-people-during-hurricane-harvey" title="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" text="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" subject="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" body="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey. An interview with Paul Timmons, co-founder of a non-profit that helps the most vulnerable escape from natural disasters." image="https://psmag.com/.image/t_share/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.jpg"><a class="m-social--button m-icon-button" aria-label="twitter" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Link twitter"><svg class="m-svg m-icon-button--icon"><use xlink:href="/assets-global/icons/svg-sprite.svg?v=2018-02-12-194626-09a8539-008481#ico_twitter" phx-svg-fallback></use></svg></a></phx-social-share-button></li><li class="m-social--print"><a class="m-icon-button" aria-label="print" href="javascript:window.print()"><svg class="m-svg m-icon-button--icon"><use xlink:href="/assets-global/icons/svg-sprite.svg?v=2018-02-12-194626-09a8539-008481#ico_print" phx-svg-fallback></use></svg></a></li></ul></section><div class="m-detail--sponsor"></div><div class="m-detail--body" phx-tml-hybrid-renderer><!-- tml-version="2" --><div class="m-detail--body-item"><figure class="l-breakout tml-image m-detail--tml-image--breakout" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"><phoenix-picture><a><picture class="is-waiting-to-load"><source type="image/webp" sizes="(min-width: 1023px) 940px, (min-width: 675px) 620px, 100vw" data-srcset="https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_320/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.webp 320w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_640/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.webp 640w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_960/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.webp 960w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_1280/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.webp 1280w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_1920/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.webp 1920w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_2560/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.webp 2560w"><source sizes="(min-width: 1023px) 940px, (min-width: 675px) 620px, 100vw" data-srcset="https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_320/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.jpg 320w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_640/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.jpg 640w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_960/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.jpg 960w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_1280/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.jpg 1280w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_1920/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.jpg 1920w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_2560/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.jpg 2560w"><img class="m-detail--tml-image m-image" alt="Brad Matheney offers help to a man in a wheelchair while Hurricane Harvey passes through Galveston, Texas, on August 26th, 2017." decoding="async" src="https://psmag.com/.image/t_share/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.jpg" data-src="https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_620/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.jpg" height="2995" width="4500" srcset="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" itemprop="contentUrl url"></picture></a><div class="m-detail--tml-image-wrapper" style="max-width:4500px; min-width:0px;"><div class="m-detail--tml-image-container" style="padding-top: 67%;"><phx-pin-it pin-url="https://psmag.com/social-justice/saving-disabled-people-during-hurricane-harvey" pin-media="https://psmag.com/.image/t_share/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.jpg" pin-description="Brad Matheney offers help to a man in a wheelchair while Hurricane Harvey passes through Galveston, Texas, on August 26th, 2017."></phx-pin-it></div></div></phoenix-picture><figcaption><p class="tml-image--caption" itemprop="caption">Brad Matheney offers help to a man in a wheelchair while Hurricane Harvey passes through Galveston, Texas, on August 26th, 2017.</p><p class="tml-image--attribution" itemprop="author"><span>(Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)</span></p></figcaption></figure></div><p>When natural disasters strike, disabled people are among the most vulnerable. Disability acts as a multiplier, intensifying risk from both natural and human forces. <a href="https://psmag.com/environment/who-didnt-evacuate-for-hurricane-katrina">Among other concerns</a>, disabled people <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/jun/06/natural-disasters-preparing-disabled" phx-track-event="" target="_blank">often cannot evacuate</a> on their own, or they struggle to carry their medical equipment with them (which can be necessary for preserving life). Emergency services may <a href="https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/issues/disability-inclusive-disaster-risk-reduction-and-emergency-situations.html" phx-track-event="" target="_blank">ignore</a> the needs of a disabled person&#x2014;sometimes, according to experts in inclusive disaster relief, even blaming disabled people for not planning better. Such experts are concerned that too many emergency responders treat people with disabilities as objects with no agency or rights, tossing them into whatever institutional setting they can find. </p><aside class="m-in-content-ad-row l-inline not-size-b not-size-c not-size-d" phx-inline-ad-layout="3b4e58394954463784c8e1e3872c945d" <div="" data-ad-group="in_content-0" data-max-ad-reloads="5"><div class="m-in-content-ad--slot is-placeholder not-size-b not-size-c not-size-d"><div id="ad-3b4e58394954463784c8e1e3872c945d"></div></div></aside><p>During Hurricane Harvey, stories of disabled people in jeopardy have proliferated across private social media networks in the disability rights world, punctuated by periodic news stories in the general press, such <a href="http://www.galvnews.com/news/free/article_e1ffff8e-435d-5c78-ab46-57d6bc7dc6a5.html" phx-track-event="" target="_blank">as this shocking one from Galveston, Texas, that depicts seniors up to their waists in floodwaters</a>. Enter Portlight Inclusive Disaster Strategies. The 501(c)3 organization was founded in the late 1990s as a way to recycle and distribute durable medical equipment, but, during Hurricane Katrina, the non-profit shifted its focus to disaster relief. According to Paul Timmons, <a href="http://www.portlight.org/" phx-track-event="" target="_blank">co-founder and current chairman of Portlight</a>, he became involved in Katrina after other members of the disability rights community alerted him to numerous abandoned wheelchairs at the New Orleans airport following the storm (people had been evacuated without their equipment, <a href="http://www.npr.org/2005/09/04/4832019/airport-becomes-staging-area-for-ill" phx-track-event="" target="_blank">as NPR reported at the time</a>). Portlight, with its experience moving equipment to those in need, sprang into action. </p><aside class="m-in-content-ad-row l-inline not-size-a not-size-b" phx-inline-ad-layout="5beba299e9004ba885a3c83a08bd629f" <div="" data-class-rules="[{&quot;sizes&quot;:[&quot;970x250&quot;],&quot;classes&quot;:[&quot;is-970x250&quot;]},{&quot;sizes&quot;:[&quot;728x90&quot;],&quot;classes&quot;:[&quot;is-728x90&quot;]}]" data-ad-group="in_content-0" data-max-ad-reloads="5"><div class="m-in-content-ad--slot is-placeholder not-size-a not-size-b"><div id="ad-5beba299e9004ba885a3c83a08bd629f"></div></div></aside><aside class="m-in-content-ad-row l-inline not-size-a not-size-c not-size-d" phx-inline-ad-layout="9e1a8f90771d45ec896265ddf18a82e8" <div="" data-class-rules="[{&quot;sizes&quot;:[&quot;728x90&quot;],&quot;classes&quot;:[&quot;is-728x90&quot;]}]" data-ad-group="in_content-0" data-max-ad-reloads="5"><div class="m-in-content-ad--slot is-placeholder not-size-a not-size-c not-size-d"><div id="ad-9e1a8f90771d45ec896265ddf18a82e8"></div></div></aside><p>Since then, the organization has been involved in relief for people with disabilities in every natural disaster in the United States and is currently engaged with the response to Hurricane Harvey. <em>Pacific Standard</em> caught up with Timmons over the phone on Sunday night, to ask about what he&apos;s hearing from Texas, and how&#xA0;emergency responders can serve disabled people just as well as they do non-disabled people.</p><div class="m-detail--body-item"><figure class="l-inline tml-image m-detail--tml-image--inline" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"><phoenix-picture><a><picture class="is-waiting-to-load"><source type="image/webp" sizes="(min-width: 1023px) 780px, (min-width: 675px) 620px, 100vw" data-srcset="https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_320/MTQ4MDA5NzQwNjcxMTMyODI3/section-break.webp 320w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_640/MTQ4MDA5NzQwNjcxMTMyODI3/section-break.webp 640w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_960/MTQ4MDA5NzQwNjcxMTMyODI3/section-break.webp 960w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_1280/MTQ4MDA5NzQwNjcxMTMyODI3/section-break.webp 1280w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_1625/MTQ4MDA5NzQwNjcxMTMyODI3/section-break.webp 1625w"><source sizes="(min-width: 1023px) 780px, (min-width: 675px) 620px, 100vw" data-srcset="https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_320/MTQ4MDA5NzQwNjcxMTMyODI3/section-break.jpg 320w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_640/MTQ4MDA5NzQwNjcxMTMyODI3/section-break.jpg 640w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_960/MTQ4MDA5NzQwNjcxMTMyODI3/section-break.jpg 960w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_1280/MTQ4MDA5NzQwNjcxMTMyODI3/section-break.jpg 1280w, https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_1625/MTQ4MDA5NzQwNjcxMTMyODI3/section-break.jpg 1625w"><img class="m-detail--tml-image m-image" alt="section-break" decoding="async" src="https://psmag.com/.image/t_share/MTQ4MDA5NzQwNjcxMTMyODI3/section-break.jpg" data-src="https://psmag.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_80%2Cw_620/MTQ4MDA5NzQwNjcxMTMyODI3/section-break.jpg" height="145" width="1625" srcset="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" itemprop="contentUrl url"></picture></a><div class="m-detail--tml-image-wrapper" style="max-width:1625px; min-width:0px;"><div class="m-detail--tml-image-container" style="padding-top: 9%;"><phx-pin-it pin-url="https://psmag.com/social-justice/saving-disabled-people-during-hurricane-harvey" pin-media="https://psmag.com/.image/t_share/MTQ4MDA5NzQwNjcxMTMyODI3/section-break.jpg" pin-description=""></phx-pin-it></div></div></phoenix-picture><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div><aside class="m-in-content-ad-row l-inline not-size-b not-size-c not-size-d" phx-inline-ad-layout="96e19cd4f55c462197fc6b4ac7861ade" <div="" data-ad-group="in_content-1" data-max-ad-reloads="5"><div class="m-in-content-ad--slot is-placeholder not-size-b not-size-c not-size-d"><div id="ad-96e19cd4f55c462197fc6b4ac7861ade"></div></div></aside><p><strong>How did Portlight get involved in inclusive disaster response?</strong></p><p>Portlight was founded in 1997. We began initially recycling and distributing durable medical equipment. [After Hurricane] Katrina, we began repatriating people with their medical equipment. The National Guard took a guy or gal, threw them over their shoulder, and got them the hell out. From there, we were very involved in a number of different pieces of the Katrina response. Then right after that was Hurricane Rita [and] Hurricane Ike, which hit the Texas coast in 2008, and we&apos;ve been involved in any disaster response ever since then.</p><p><strong>What do readers need to know about people with disabilities and disasters?</strong></p><p>The most important message is for the emergency responders, the emergency management people: There is no disaster loophole when it comes to ensuring the civil rights of people with disabilities. That message drives everything else that goes on in this space. </p><p><strong>I assume you&apos;re saying this because too often emergency service workers ignore the rights of disabled people. </strong></p><p>Whether it&apos;s the Red Cross, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or state or local emergency management folks, frequently these are people who come out of the medical community&#x2014;nurses, E.M.T.s, firefighters, etc. As a result of that, they don&apos;t know what they don&apos;t know. And they&apos;re pretty firmly rooted in the medical model. As long as you&apos;ve got a bed, and you&apos;re OK, and someone&apos;s bringing you food&#x2014;the fact that you want to roll outside and smoke a cigarette does not resonate with them.</p><p><strong>So they treat a person as a problem to solve medically, not a person with rights and agency.</strong></p><p>It&apos;s an uphill climb. There&apos;s just historically deep-rooted medical model thinking, so that it makes the gains more torturously incremental.</p><aside class="m-in-content-ad-row l-inline not-size-b not-size-c not-size-d" phx-inline-ad-layout="3ee56bb0f78e4dd1a4c106c87d8d91ad" <div="" data-ad-group="in_content-2" data-max-ad-reloads="5"><div class="m-in-content-ad--slot is-placeholder not-size-b not-size-c not-size-d"><div id="ad-3ee56bb0f78e4dd1a4c106c87d8d91ad"></div></div></aside><p><strong>What is Portlight doing right now [Sunday night]?</strong></p><p>Information gathering and resource referral. At this point, it&apos;s largely a rescue situation. Even the responders can&apos;t move around Houston right now. We know that there will be need for durable medical replacement. We&apos;re prepared to help with that, and the need for short-term lodging. And we&apos;re also gathering information, anecdotal information, where the system is going wrong, so we can use that in our ongoing efforts to educate and mitigate some of the problems. </p><p>This is probably going to transition on Wednesday or Thursday to filling direct immediate needs. Traditionally that&apos;s been replacing durable medical equipment. </p><p><strong>Because that equipment is either damaged by the water or abandoned? </strong></p><p>All of the above, that&apos;s correct. The more long-term piece&#x2014;on the very best day, housing is a real challenge for our community, and these obviously aren&apos;t going to be the best days. So medium- to long-term housing always becomes a problem. We&apos;re expecting to serve as a resource.</p><p><strong>How should people with disabilities, their loved ones, and caregivers prepare for disasters?</strong></p><p>Everyone should have a personal plan. It&apos;s counterintuitive not to have some idea of what you&apos;re going to do if a giant schism rips open the surface of the Earth. But it&apos;s the job of the people in the business [of disaster response] to serve our community.</p><p>My concern about the focus on personal planning is this: It can lead to scapegoatism and a false sense of security. There was a woman in the [2015] <a href="http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-woman-who-died-in-california-fire-had-no-way-to-2015sep14-story.html" phx-track-event="" target="_blank">California wildfire with multiple sclerosis who died</a>. She had a great plan. ... It turned to shit when the balloon went off. Emergency responders could have gotten to her and saved her, and they didn&apos;t. Everybody should have a plan, but I don&apos;t think it lets people in the business [of disaster response] off the hook.</p><aside class="m-in-content-ad-row l-inline not-size-a not-size-b" phx-inline-ad-layout="d018d9e6f6fc4246a062483a45de8cb7" <div="" data-class-rules="[{&quot;sizes&quot;:[&quot;970x250&quot;],&quot;classes&quot;:[&quot;is-970x250&quot;]},{&quot;sizes&quot;:[&quot;728x90&quot;],&quot;classes&quot;:[&quot;is-728x90&quot;]}]" data-ad-group="in_content-1" data-max-ad-reloads="5"><div class="m-in-content-ad--slot is-placeholder not-size-a not-size-b"><div id="ad-d018d9e6f6fc4246a062483a45de8cb7"></div></div></aside><aside class="m-in-content-ad-row l-inline not-size-a not-size-c not-size-d" phx-inline-ad-layout="6235352044f348a889f8893269c4ba47" <div="" data-class-rules="[{&quot;sizes&quot;:[&quot;728x90&quot;],&quot;classes&quot;:[&quot;is-728x90&quot;]}]" data-ad-group="in_content-1" data-max-ad-reloads="5"><div class="m-in-content-ad--slot is-placeholder not-size-a not-size-c not-size-d"><div id="ad-6235352044f348a889f8893269c4ba47"></div></div></aside><aside class="m-in-content-ad-row l-inline not-size-b not-size-c not-size-d" phx-inline-ad-layout="fdf0f6c2be5c42c88c27e698000dfbff" <div="" data-ad-group="in_content-3" data-max-ad-reloads="5"><div class="m-in-content-ad--slot is-placeholder not-size-b not-size-c not-size-d"><div id="ad-fdf0f6c2be5c42c88c27e698000dfbff"></div></div></aside><p><strong>What needs to happen in other places before the next disaster strikes?</strong></p><p>Where this [inclusive disaster response] works is where there are pre-existing relationships between people in the emergency management community and people in the disability stakeholder community. Where it doesn&apos;t work is where those relationships don&apos;t exist. It&apos;s too late to build those relationships once the disaster has come. </p><p>There are a lot of granular solutions. Almost all of them come from the creation and cultivation of relationships.</p></div><div class="m-detail--sponsor"></div><footer class="m-detail--footer"><div class="m-detail--meta"><dl><dt class="m-detail--label">Tags</dt><dt>terms:</dt><dd class="m-detail--keywords" itemprop="keywords"><a href="/tag/disability">Disability</a><a href="/tag/the-ps-interview">The Ps Interview</a><a href="/tag/disasters">Disasters</a><a href="/tag/features">Features</a><a href="/tag/social-justice">Social Justice</a><a href="/tag/hurricane-harvey">Hurricane Harvey</a></dd></dl></div><aside class="m-detail--author-box"><div class="m-detail--avatar"><a href="/author/david-m-perry" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Author Image"><phoenix-picture><picture class="is-waiting-to-load"><source data-srcset="https://psmag.com/.image/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_60%2Cq_85%2Cw_60/MTMzNzk1MjQxNzMwNzc5Nzc5/headshot2015jpg.jpg"><img src="https://psmag.com/.image/c_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_face%2Ch_60%2Cq_85%2Cw_60/MTMzNzk1MjQxNzMwNzc5Nzc5/headshot2015jpg.jpg" srcset="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" alt="David M. Perry"></picture></phoenix-picture></a></div><div class="m-detail--author-content"><div class="m-detail--author-byline"><div class="m-detail--author-byline-label">By</div> <a href="/author/david-m-perry" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Author Name" rel="author">David M. Perry</a></div><div class="m-detail--author-social is-minified"><dl><dt>Twitter:<dd><a href="https://twitter.com/lollardfish" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Twitter Follow" rel="me" target="_blank">Twitter</a></dd></dt><dt>Website:<dd><a href="http://www.thismess.net/" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Website Follow" rel="me" target="_blank">Website</a></dd></dt></dl></div></div></aside><section class="m-social"><ul><li class="m-social--interaction-count"><div class="m-social--interaction-count-num" phx-fresh-social-stats="aggregate" item-id="ci021372832000273a" item-timestamp="2017-08-29T13:00:00Z">10K</div><div class="m-social--interaction-count-label">SHARES</div></li><li class="m-social--facebook"><phx-social-share-button medium="facebook" url="https://psmag.com/social-justice/saving-disabled-people-during-hurricane-harvey" title="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" text="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" subject="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" body="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey. An interview with Paul Timmons, co-founder of a non-profit that helps the most vulnerable escape from natural disasters." image="https://psmag.com/.image/t_share/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.jpg"><a class="m-social--button m-icon-button" aria-label="facebook" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Link facebook"><svg class="m-svg m-icon-button--icon"><use xlink:href="/assets-global/icons/svg-sprite.svg?v=2018-02-12-194626-09a8539-008481#ico_facebook" phx-svg-fallback></use></svg></a></phx-social-share-button></li><li class="m-social--linkedin"><phx-social-share-button medium="linkedin" url="https://psmag.com/social-justice/saving-disabled-people-during-hurricane-harvey" title="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" text="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" subject="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" body="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey. An interview with Paul Timmons, co-founder of a non-profit that helps the most vulnerable escape from natural disasters." image="https://psmag.com/.image/t_share/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.jpg"><a class="m-social--button m-icon-button" aria-label="linkedin" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Link linkedin"><svg class="m-svg m-icon-button--icon"><use xlink:href="/assets-global/icons/svg-sprite.svg?v=2018-02-12-194626-09a8539-008481#ico_linkedin" phx-svg-fallback></use></svg></a></phx-social-share-button></li><li class="m-social--instagram"><phx-social-share-button medium="instagram" url="https://psmag.com/social-justice/saving-disabled-people-during-hurricane-harvey" title="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" text="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" subject="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" body="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey. An interview with Paul Timmons, co-founder of a non-profit that helps the most vulnerable escape from natural disasters." image="https://psmag.com/.image/t_share/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.jpg"><a class="m-social--button m-icon-button" aria-label="instagram" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Link instagram"><svg class="m-svg m-icon-button--icon"><use xlink:href="/assets-global/icons/svg-sprite.svg?v=2018-02-12-194626-09a8539-008481#ico_instagram" phx-svg-fallback></use></svg></a></phx-social-share-button></li><li class="m-social--twitter"><phx-social-share-button medium="twitter" url="https://psmag.com/social-justice/saving-disabled-people-during-hurricane-harvey" title="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" text="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" subject="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey" body="Inside the Organization Saving Disabled People During Hurricane Harvey. An interview with Paul Timmons, co-founder of a non-profit that helps the most vulnerable escape from natural disasters." image="https://psmag.com/.image/t_share/MTQ5NTkzMzQzOTY4NDIxNjkw/gettyimages-839597832.jpg"><a class="m-social--button m-icon-button" aria-label="twitter" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Link twitter"><svg class="m-svg m-icon-button--icon"><use xlink:href="/assets-global/icons/svg-sprite.svg?v=2018-02-12-194626-09a8539-008481#ico_twitter" phx-svg-fallback></use></svg></a></phx-social-share-button></li><li class="m-social--print"><a class="m-icon-button" aria-label="print" href="javascript:window.print()"><svg class="m-svg m-icon-button--icon"><use xlink:href="/assets-global/icons/svg-sprite.svg?v=2018-02-12-194626-09a8539-008481#ico_print" phx-svg-fallback></use></svg></a></li></ul></section></footer></div><div class="m-aside-rail l-grid--rail"><aside class="m-aside-rail--atf-ad" phx-content-rail-ad-block><div class="m-sidebar-ad not-size-a not-size-b" 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class="m-collection-strip--header"><div class="m-component-header m-component-stack--header"><div class="m-component-header--container mm-component-header--size-extra-small"><h1 class="m-component-header--image" role="heading"><img src="https://psmag.com/.image/cs_srgb/MTUzMDcyMjkxMTAwNTAwOTk5/section_header_art_xtrasmall_related.svg" alt="Related"></h1></div></div></div><div class="m-carousel m-collection-strip--carousel" phx-carousel><div class="m-carousel--content-wrapper"><div class="m-carousel--content" phx-carousel-content><div class="m-collection-strip--tile"><article class="m-card mm-card--landscape-image mm-card--type-standard mm-card--density-strip" role="article" phx-super-link="{&quot;href&quot;:&quot;/social-justice/language-barriers-during-hurricane-harvey&quot;}"><div class="m-card--media"><a class="m-card--image-link m-background-image" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Image" href="/social-justice/language-barriers-during-hurricane-harvey"><phoenix-picture><picture class="is-waiting-to-load"><source type="image/webp" data-srcset="https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_320/MTQ5NjYxMzg2MTgyNTAyMjAy/gettyimages-841006266.webp 320w, https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_640/MTQ5NjYxMzg2MTgyNTAyMjAy/gettyimages-841006266.webp 640w, https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_960/MTQ5NjYxMzg2MTgyNTAyMjAy/gettyimages-841006266.webp 960w" sizes="(min-width: 675px) 640px,320px"><source data-srcset="https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_320/MTQ5NjYxMzg2MTgyNTAyMjAy/gettyimages-841006266.jpg 320w, https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_640/MTQ5NjYxMzg2MTgyNTAyMjAy/gettyimages-841006266.jpg 640w, https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_960/MTQ5NjYxMzg2MTgyNTAyMjAy/gettyimages-841006266.jpg 960w" sizes="(min-width: 675px) 640px,320px"><img class="m-card--image-element" decoding="async" nopin="true" sizes="(min-width: 675px) 640px,320px" src="https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_620/MTQ5NjYxMzg2MTgyNTAyMjAy/gettyimages-841006266.jpg" srcset="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" alt="A car gets towed while men walk in the flooded waters of Telephone Road in Houston, Texas, on August 30th, 2017."></picture><div class="m-card--image-aspect-ratio-pusher"></div></phoenix-picture></a></div><div class="m-card--content"><div class="m-card--label"><a href="/social-justice" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Label">Social Justice</a></div><a class="m-card--header" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Title" href="/social-justice/language-barriers-during-hurricane-harvey"><h2 class="m-card--header-text" role="heading" phx-ellipsis>Inside the Organization Helping Immigrant Communities Survive Hurricane Harvey</h2></a><p class="m-card--body" phx-ellipsis>More than one in five Houstonians don't speak English very well. When it comes to recent immigrants, community organizations are critical to disaster response.</p></div></article></div><div class="m-collection-strip--tile"><article class="m-card mm-card--landscape-image mm-card--type-standard mm-card--density-strip" role="article" phx-super-link="{&quot;href&quot;:&quot;/social-justice/we-should-not-involuntarily-commit-the-homeless-during-hurricanes&quot;}"><div class="m-card--media"><a class="m-card--image-link m-background-image" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Image" href="/social-justice/we-should-not-involuntarily-commit-the-homeless-during-hurricanes"><phoenix-picture><picture class="is-waiting-to-load"><source type="image/webp" data-srcset="https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_320/MTQ5OTg3MDY2ODQxNjcwNzE4/gettyimages-846991300.webp 320w, https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_640/MTQ5OTg3MDY2ODQxNjcwNzE4/gettyimages-846991300.webp 640w, https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_960/MTQ5OTg3MDY2ODQxNjcwNzE4/gettyimages-846991300.webp 960w" sizes="(min-width: 675px) 640px,320px"><source data-srcset="https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_320/MTQ5OTg3MDY2ODQxNjcwNzE4/gettyimages-846991300.jpg 320w, https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_640/MTQ5OTg3MDY2ODQxNjcwNzE4/gettyimages-846991300.jpg 640w, https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_960/MTQ5OTg3MDY2ODQxNjcwNzE4/gettyimages-846991300.jpg 960w" sizes="(min-width: 675px) 640px,320px"><img class="m-card--image-element" decoding="async" nopin="true" sizes="(min-width: 675px) 640px,320px" src="https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_620/MTQ5OTg3MDY2ODQxNjcwNzE4/gettyimages-846991300.jpg" srcset="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" alt="Residents of a rural migrant-worker town wait for emergency donations following Hurricane Irma in Immokalee, Florida, on September 14th, 2017."></picture><div class="m-card--image-aspect-ratio-pusher"></div></phoenix-picture></a></div><div class="m-card--content"><div class="m-card--label"><a href="/social-justice" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Label">Social Justice</a></div><a class="m-card--header" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Title" href="/social-justice/we-should-not-involuntarily-commit-the-homeless-during-hurricanes"><h2 class="m-card--header-text" role="heading" phx-ellipsis>No, We Should Not Involuntarily Commit the Homeless During Hurricanes</h2></a><p class="m-card--body" phx-ellipsis>Only a broken system locks up homeless people to keep them safe.</p></div></article></div></div></div></div></section><section class="m-collection-strip mm-collection-strip--is-stretched m-component-stack mm-component-stack--is-stacked"><div class="m-carousel m-collection-strip--carousel" phx-carousel><div class="m-carousel--content-wrapper"><div class="m-carousel--content" phx-carousel-content><div class="m-collection-strip--tile"><article class="m-card mm-card--landscape-image mm-card--type-standard mm-card--density-strip" role="article" phx-super-link="{&quot;href&quot;:&quot;/environment/fixing-americas-disability-disaster-response&quot;}"><div class="m-card--media"><a class="m-card--image-link m-background-image" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Image" href="/environment/fixing-americas-disability-disaster-response"><phoenix-picture><picture class="is-waiting-to-load"><source type="image/webp" data-srcset="https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_320/MTUyMjM3NTYyMDU5MDQwMjQw/gettyimages-839597832.webp 320w, https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_640/MTUyMjM3NTYyMDU5MDQwMjQw/gettyimages-839597832.webp 640w, 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passes through Galveston, Texas, on August 26th, 2017."></picture><div class="m-card--image-aspect-ratio-pusher"></div></phoenix-picture></a></div><div class="m-card--content"><div class="m-card--label"><a href="/environment" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Label">Environment</a></div><a class="m-card--header" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Title" href="/environment/fixing-americas-disability-disaster-response"><h2 class="m-card--header-text" role="heading" phx-ellipsis>Disability and Disaster Response in the Age of Climate Change</h2></a><p class="m-card--body" phx-ellipsis>Meet the people working to fix America's disability disaster response after a year of dire weather.</p></div></article></div><div class="m-collection-strip--tile"><article class="m-card mm-card--landscape-image mm-card--type-standard mm-card--density-strip" role="article" phx-super-link="{&quot;href&quot;:&quot;/social-justice/voting-while-disabled&quot;}"><div class="m-card--media"><a class="m-card--image-link m-background-image" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Image" href="/social-justice/voting-while-disabled"><phoenix-picture><picture class="is-waiting-to-load"><source type="image/webp" data-srcset="https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_320/MTQ3MTUxNjk5ODg5MzY2OTM1/gettyimages-621793454.webp 320w, https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_640/MTQ3MTUxNjk5ODg5MzY2OTM1/gettyimages-621793454.webp 640w, https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_960/MTQ3MTUxNjk5ODg5MzY2OTM1/gettyimages-621793454.webp 960w" sizes="320px"><source data-srcset="https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_320/MTQ3MTUxNjk5ODg5MzY2OTM1/gettyimages-621793454.jpg 320w, https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_640/MTQ3MTUxNjk5ODg5MzY2OTM1/gettyimages-621793454.jpg 640w, https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_960/MTQ3MTUxNjk5ODg5MzY2OTM1/gettyimages-621793454.jpg 960w" sizes="320px"><img class="m-card--image-element" decoding="async" nopin="true" sizes="320px" src="https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_620/MTQ3MTUxNjk5ODg5MzY2OTM1/gettyimages-621793454.jpg" srcset="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" alt="A woman receives a sticker after casting her vote at the Immaculate Conception Church on November 8th, 2016, in Penacook, New Hampshire."></picture><div class="m-card--image-aspect-ratio-pusher"></div></phoenix-picture></a></div><div class="m-card--content"><div class="m-card--label"><a href="/social-justice" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Label">Social Justice</a></div><a class="m-card--header" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Title" href="/social-justice/voting-while-disabled"><h2 class="m-card--header-text" role="heading" phx-ellipsis>How Disabled People Are Prevented From Voting</h2></a><p class="m-card--body" phx-ellipsis>A new lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union alleges widespread disability discrimination in New Hampshire's absentee process.</p></div></article></div><div class="m-collection-strip--tile"><article class="m-card mm-card--landscape-image mm-card--type-standard mm-card--density-strip" role="article" phx-super-link="{&quot;href&quot;:&quot;/education/betsy-devos-rolls-back-disability-rights&quot;}"><div class="m-card--media"><a class="m-card--image-link m-background-image" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Image" href="/education/betsy-devos-rolls-back-disability-rights"><phoenix-picture><picture class="is-waiting-to-load"><source type="image/webp" data-srcset="https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_320/MTUwMTQ4MTc3NTA3Mzk1MDc1/gettyimages-635326284.webp 320w, 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srcset="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" alt="President Donald Trump speaks as Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos listens during a parent-teacher conference at the Roosevelt Room of the White House on February 14th, 2017."></picture><div class="m-card--image-aspect-ratio-pusher"></div></phoenix-picture></a></div><div class="m-card--content"><div class="m-card--label"><a href="/education" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Label">Education</a></div><a class="m-card--header" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Title" href="/education/betsy-devos-rolls-back-disability-rights"><h2 class="m-card--header-text" role="heading" phx-ellipsis>The Meaning of Betsy DeVos' Rollback on Disability Rights</h2></a><p class="m-card--body" phx-ellipsis>Ten months in, the damage that DeVos is doing to America's most vulnerable is becoming clear.</p></div></article></div><div class="m-collection-strip--tile"><article class="m-card mm-card--landscape-image mm-card--type-standard mm-card--density-strip" role="article" phx-super-link="{&quot;href&quot;:&quot;/social-justice/how-disability-activists-are-playing-the-long-game-under-trump&quot;}"><div class="m-card--media"><a class="m-card--image-link m-background-image" phx-track-event phx-track-id="Image" href="/social-justice/how-disability-activists-are-playing-the-long-game-under-trump"><phoenix-picture><picture class="is-waiting-to-load"><source type="image/webp" data-srcset="https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_320/MTUyOTMzODQ3MzkzMTE3MTkx/gettyimages-853725352.webp 320w, https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_640/MTUyOTMzODQ3MzkzMTE3MTkx/gettyimages-853725352.webp 640w, https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_960/MTUyOTMzODQ3MzkzMTE3MTkx/gettyimages-853725352.webp 960w" sizes="320px"><source data-srcset="https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_320/MTUyOTMzODQ3MzkzMTE3MTkx/gettyimages-853725352.jpg 320w, https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_640/MTUyOTMzODQ3MzkzMTE3MTkx/gettyimages-853725352.jpg 640w, https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_960/MTUyOTMzODQ3MzkzMTE3MTkx/gettyimages-853725352.jpg 960w" sizes="320px"><img class="m-card--image-element" decoding="async" nopin="true" sizes="320px" src="https://psmag.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_80%2Cw_620/MTUyOTMzODQ3MzkzMTE3MTkx/gettyimages-853725352.jpg" srcset="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" alt="U.S. Capitol Police arrest disability rights protesters at a Senate Finance Committee hearing about the proposed Graham-Cassidy Health Care Bill in Washington, D.C., on September 25th, 2017."></picture><div 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