Disabilities and Disaster Health Service Use after Hurricane Katrina
Laura M. Stough, Ph.D
Texas A&M University
Research on the social vulnerability of individuals with disabilities and functional needs
(Peek & Stough, 2010; Stough, 2015; Stough & Mayhorn) points out the intersectionality of
social, economic, and cultural factors in disaster contexts. We studied barriers to services and
supports faced by Katrina survivors with disabilities or diabetes before and after the storm as part
of our ongoing work on the long term recovery of storm survivors (see Stough, 2011; Stough,
Sharp, Decker, & Wilker, 2010; McAdams Ducy & Stough, 2011). Access to health and other
services continued as a major source of stress, but most difficult was the disconnection from
family, previous neighborhood social network, and friends. Service and support needs overall
seem to be similar following catastrophic disasters, but people with disabilities and diabetes
encountered unique challenges in social support and medical services.
References:
McAdams Ducy, E., & Stough, L. M. (2011). Exploring the support role of special education
teachers after Hurricane Ike: Children with significant disabilities. Journal of Family
Issues, 32, 1325-1345.
Peek, L., & Stough, L. M. (2010). Children with disabilities in the context of disaster: A social
vulnerability perspective. Child Development, 81(4), 1260-1270.
Stough, L. M. (2015). Disasters and intellectual disability: Considerations on the World Report on
Disability. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities.
Stough, L. M. (2011). Disaster case management: Disaster case management and individuals with
disabilities following Hurricane Katrina. Brain Injury Professional, 6(4), 18-21.
Stough, L. M., & Mayhorn, C. (2013). Population segments with disabilities. Journal of Mass
Emergencies and Disasters, 31(3), 384-402.
Stough, L. M., Sharp, A. N., Decker, C., & Wilker, N. (2010). Disaster case management and
individuals with disabilities. Rehabilitation Psychology, 55(3), 211-220.