As communities across the Columbia Basin prepare for another summer of potential emergencies, a Kootenay family support organization is working to ensure children and youth with disabilities are not overlooked in emergency planning.
Diverse Family Roots Society has launched a campaign to create 100 sensory go bags for families raising children and youth with disabilities. The bags will include specialized supplies intended to help ease stress, anxiety and sensory overwhelm during sudden evacuations.
The initiative comes as wildfire seasons, evacuation alerts and extreme weather events remain top of mind for many families across southeastern B.C.
“It seems like more and more we’re being told to be ready for the next one,” said Ben Postmus, founder and executive director of Diverse Family Roots Society.
For many households, emergency preparedness means gathering food, water, generators, medications and important documents. But Postmus said families caring for children with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, OCD, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and other neurodivergent conditions often have additional needs that are not always considered in traditional emergency planning.
“When families have to leave with very little notice, they grab the essentials and go,” he said. “But for many of our kids, there are specific items that help them regulate, stay calm and feel safe. In the panic of an evacuation, those things can easily be forgotten.”
Over the past several years, Postmus said he has heard repeated stories from families who were forced to leave their homes quickly, only to realize later they had left behind the items their children relied on most.
“We hear people say, ‘We had very little time and grabbed what we could,’” he said. “Families are worried about their homes, their memories and their safety. In that moment, you’re not necessarily thinking about the sensory supports that help your child get through a difficult situation.”
The sensory go bags are intended to help fill that gap.
Each bag would contain a range of comfort and sensory-regulation items, including noise-cancelling headphones, fidget tools, portable charging devices, universal charging cords, colouring supplies, fleece blankets, sensory socks, stuffed animals, LEGO, UNO cards and other activities designed to provide familiarity and distraction during stressful situations.
Postmus noted that many children and youth rely heavily on electronic devices for communication, comfort or emotional regulation, making portable power sources an important addition.
“Many of our kids survive because of their devices,” he said.
The society has approached local governments, community organizations and potential funding partners throughout the Columbia Basin to help finance the project. Postmus said early discussions have been encouraging, with several organizations expressing support.
The goal is to raise approximately $22,000 to assemble and distribute 100 bags, at an estimated cost of $160 to $200 each.
While 100 bags may sound ambitious, Postmus said demand could quickly exceed that number.
“One hundred is a lot, but at the same time it’s not,” he said. “Based on conversations we’ve already had with professionals and families, my gut tells me there could be a second phase because the need is there. But we have to start somewhere.”
Families would also be able to personalize the bags with their own comfort items and supports.
The project aligns with the broader mission of Diverse Family Roots Society, which works to connect families across the Kootenays through peer support networks, resource sharing, virtual programs and community events.
For Postmus, the sensory go bag initiative is another example of families helping families.
“It’s a huge gap,” he said. “The response we’ve received from professionals in the field has been overwhelmingly positive because it’s addressing a need that many people recognize but that hasn’t really been filled.”
Those wishing to support the project can contact Diverse Family Roots Society at diversefamilyroots@gmail.com or visit diversefamilyroots.ca.
