Those of us who care about disability and rehabilitation know that theHaiti earthquake will leave hundreds if not thousands of persons withspinal cord injuries, amputations, and brain injuries.

What can we do?

1. Make sure friends, colleagues, and media understand thatrehabilitation is an emergency, not an afterthought. These injuriesrequire immediate specialized rehabilitation programs.
2. Mobilize people to raise funds, and be prepared to considerdonations of supplies, equipment and volunteer time to our partners in Haiti.
3. Consider donating to a special fund for Haiti established by theInternational Rehabilitation Forum. Click on our DONATE link and use PayPal or mail a tax-deductable check to:

   Haiti Rehabilitation Program
   The International Rehabilitation Forum
   3316 The Glade
   Ann Arbor, MI 48103

4. Don’t forget Haiti! This is not the first or last naturaldisaster. Advocate for aid agencies to include safe evacuationtraining for community rescuers, urgent building of makeshiftrehabilitation hospitals, and investment in long-term rehabilitation forsurvivors.

Sincerely,

Andrew J. Haig M.D.
IRF President