Project Description:
Project REDD was created in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in response to the overwhelming need of individuals with disabilities that were displaced to the State of Texas following these disasters.
The mission of Project REDD: Research and Education on Disability and Disaster is to conduct basic research on the effects of disaster on individuals with disabilities, as well as evaluation research on projects that deliver direct services during disaster. Project REDD also provides evidence-based workshops, presentations, technical support, and products for practitioners in the field of emergency management.
Project REDD is engaged in continuing research on the case management and long term recovery of Hurricane Katrina survivors with disabilities. In addition, researchers with Project REDD are studying the experiences of individuals with disabilities sheltered in the general population during Hurricane Ike. Project REDD has collaborated with a broad range of other academic and research entities in investigating issues of critical importance to individuals with disabilities affected by disaster including long-term recovery, case management, sheltering, and preparedness. Past and current collaborations have included researchers from the University of Texas Southwest Medical School, National Center on Post Traumatic Stress Disorders, the Independent Living Research Utilization Center at The Institution for Rehabilitation Research Memorial Hermann Hospital, and the University of Texas School of Social Work, as well as other organizations. Project REDD has also established linkages with other UCEDDs who conduct disaster research including researchers at the University of New Mexico, Utah State University, the University of Kansas, and the University of Wyoming and collaborates with these partners in research presentations with these partners at the annual meeting of the American Association of University Centers on Disabilities. Project REDD staff regularly present research professional conferences and venues including at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, TASH: Disability Worldwide, Council for Exceptional Children, Disaster Education in Disaster Mental Health, American Association on Health and Disabilities, and at the Natural Hazards Center at Texas A&M University.
Project REDD provides training for consumers and service providers to assist with disaster recovery. Workshops have been presented at the Texas Homeland Security Conference, Texas Hurricane Conference, Texas Nursing Association, Houston Voluntary Agencies for Disasters, Brazos Valley Caregiver's Association, and at the Texas State Voluntary Agencies on Disaster Conference. Project REDD has collaborated with Texas Interagency Interfaith Disaster Response to train Katrina Aid Today case workers in Texas on disability-related services in the state.
Project REDD maintains a presence in the Texas disaster community by serving as a resource to agencies and organizations from the local level to the national level. Project REDD regularly communicates with the Texas Governor's Office, Advocacy Inc., the Disability Policy Consortium, Texas Interagency Interfaith Disaster Response, Central Texas Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster, Gulf Coast Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster, and the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.
Project REDD, with direct support from the Center on Disability and Development at Texas A&M University, has produced two resource guides; the Disaster Acronym Guide and the Texas Guide to Supports and Services for Individuals with Disabilities and Their Families Affected by Disasters and disseminated over 8,000 of these resources throughout the state as well as nationally to other organizations providing disaster-related services to individuals with disabilities.
Funding for Project REDD has come from a range of public and private sources including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Association of University Centers on Disability, and the National Disability Rights Network.
---Project REDD Fiscal Year 2020---
During FY 2020 Project REDD continued to address the needs of people with disabilities affected by Hurricane Harvey. In March 2020, Project REDD began creating projects, organizing the disability community, and supporting emergency management and public health entities in responding to the emerging needs of people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of Project REDD is to conduct high-quality research and evaluation studies on how disasters effect individuals with disabilities and their families, and provide research-based training, education, and outreach on the topic of disability and disaster for organizations, service providers, families, and individuals. The objectives of this project are:
1 to conduct high-quality research and evaluation studies on how disasters effect individuals with disabilities and their families, and
2. to provide research-based training, education, and outreach on the topic of disability and disaster for organizations, service providers, families, and individuals.
Project activities since March 2020 have targeted individuals with disabilities impacted by disaster or COVID-19. Presentations and trainings are provided remotely, and materials are disseminated to emergency managers, long-term recovery committees, disaster case managers, VOADs, community-based groups and disability-related organizations in all counties and cities affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Over 2019-2020, Project REDD staff participated in publishing several articles, including 3 with trainees and 2 with former trainees.
Project REDD maintains communication with multiple national, state, and local collaborators including the Texas Governor's Office on Disability, the Texas Division on Emergency Management, Texas Disability Rights, Central Texas Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster, the National Center on Post Traumatic Stress Disaster, the University of Texas Southwest Medical School, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, as well as other organizations. Project REDD has established linkages with other UCEDDs who are also conducting research in this area including UCEDDs at the University of Hawaii, the University of Kansas, Utah State University, the University of Wyoming, the University of Southern Mississippi, the Temple UCEDD, and the University of Delaware UCEDD. Project REDD responds on a weekly basis to emails or calls from pre departments, police departments, MHMR offices
---Project REDD Fiscal Year 2020---
During FY 2020 Project REDD continued to address the needs of people with disabilities affected by Hurricane Harvey and the needs of people with disabilities during COVID-19.
The purpose of Project REDD is to conduct high-quality research and evaluation studies on how disasters effect individuals with disabilities and their families, and provide research-based training, education, and outreach on the topic of disability and disaster for organizations, service providers, families, and individuals. The objectives of this project are: _________
Project activities target individuals with disabilities that have been impacted by disaster or COVID-19. Presentations and trainings are provided onsite and remotely, and materials are disseminated to emergency managers, long-term recovery committees, disaster case managers, VOADs, community-based groups and disability-related organizations in all counties and cities affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Over 2019-2020, Project REDD staff participated in publishing several articles, including five with trainees: Hwang, J., Li, W., Stough, L. M., Lee, C., & Turnbull, K. A focus group on the potential of autonomous vehicles as a viable transportation option: Perspectives from people with disabilities and public transit agencies. Transportation Research Part F: Psychology and Behavior. Stough, L. M., & Lee, S. (in submission). An examination of grounded theory methods used in top ranked education journals. Stough, L. M., Ducy, E. M., Kang, D, & Lee, S (2020). School safety and students with disabilities. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction,45, 1-10 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2019.101447 [5-yr IF=2.494]. Sweet, K., LeBlanc, J., Stough, L. M., & Sweany, N. (2019). Community building and knowledge sharing by individual with disabilities using social media. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 1-11. doi: 10.1111/jcal.12377 [5-yr IF=3.055]. Stough, L.M. (2019, August). Hurricane Harvey After Action Report on Individuals with Disabilities, Texas Disability Integration Newsletter, 4(3), 1.
Project REDD also engaged in a number of presentations: Lynch, P. S., Sweet, K. S., Montague, M. L., Stough, L. M., & Sharp, A. (2020, February). Disaster preparedness and recovery for students with disabilities: The role of educators. To be presented at the annual meeting of the Council for Exceptional Children. Portland, OR. Stough, L. M. (2019, December). Designing the Mobile Tips for First Responders on disabilities and other functional and access needs. Invited presentation at the Enhancing Response, Protecting Dignity: Disability Tips and Tools for First Responders Conference. University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Sweet, K. S., Sharp, A. N., & Stough, L. M. (2019, November). ReDiscovery training and education on the needs of individuals with disabilities and access and functional needs following Hurricane Harvey. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, Washington, D.C. Stough, L. M. (2019, November). Listening to voices of the disability community recovering from disaster. Panel at the annual meeting of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, Washington, D.C. Stough, L. M. (2019, October). Enhancing your skills in conducting qualitative studies: A dialogue with an expert panel. Invited presentation at the College of Education and Human Development at Texas A&M University. Lynch, P. S., Sweet, K. S., Montague, M. L., Stough, L. M., & Sharp, A. (2019, October). Disaster Preparedness: Facilitating Self-Determination for Evacuation and Recovery for Adolescents with Disabilities. Presentation at the Division of Career Development and Transition Annual Conference, Council for Exceptional Children. Seattle, WA. Stough, L. M. (2019, September). Recovery after disasters and individuals with disabilities- What we know and what we do not. Invited presentation at the Americans with Disabilities Act Update Conference, Los Angeles, CA. Stough, L. M., Sweet, Kayla S., & Montague, M. L. (2019, September). Resources for Disasters and Disability (REDDy) Directory providing independence and resilience post Hurricane Harvey. Presentation at the Resilience Rising: Research and Practice on Harvey and Hazards of the Future, College Station, TX. Hwang, J., Li, W., Stough, L. M., Lee, C., & Turnbull, K. (2019, July). The potential of autonomous vehicle transportation to serve people with disabilities: Findings from focus group discussions. Poster presentation at the Automated Vehicles Symposium, Orlando, FL. Ducy, E.M., & Stough, L.M. (2019, July). Evacuating under fire: Children with disabilities and the 2017 Sonoma County fires. Presentation at the International Research Committee on Disasters Researchers Meeting, Broomfield, CO.
Project REDD maintains communication with the Texas Governor's Office on Disability, the State of Texas Office of Emergency Management, Texas Disability Rights, Texas Interfaith Disaster Response, Central Texas Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster, Gulf Coast Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster, the National Center on Post Traumatic Stress Disaster, the University of Texas Southwest Medical School, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, the Independent Living Research Utilization center at The Institution for Rehabilitation Research Memorial Hermann Hospital, and the American Association on Health and Disabilities as well as other organizations. Project REDD has established linkages with other UCEDDs who are also conducting research in this area including UCEDDs at the University of New Mexico, the University of Kansas, Utah State University, the University of Wyoming, the University of Southern Mississippi, the Temple UCEDD, and the University of Delaware UCEDD. Project REDD responds on a weekly basis to emails or calls from pre departments, police departments, MHMR offices, offices of emergency management, and disability-related organizations.
Stough, L. M. (2020). Disability and COVID-19 Working Group. This COVID-19 Working Group effort was supported by the National Science Foundation-funded Social Science Extreme Events Research (SSEER) Network and the COVERGE facility at the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder (NSF Award #1841338). 4/18/2020-6/19/2020.. Role: Principal Investigator, Project Director, Author.
Stough, L. M. (2018-2019). Disability and disaster long-term recovery training (D2 LTRT) in inclusion and support of individuals with disabilities. American Red Cross. 9/2/2018-8/31/2019. $249,769. Role: Principal Investigator, Project Director, Author.
