People who went to school, lived, worked, or volunteered in lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights on 9/11 and the months that followed and were exposed to the toxins released by the collapse to the World Trade Center are being urged to come forward as they may be eligible for medical treatment and compensation.
Many of these ordinary New Yorkers are now developing cancers and other illnesses that have been directly linked to the 9/11 toxins. Yet most have no idea that they may be eligible for health care and compensation as a result of an extension of the James Zadroga 9-11 Health and Compensation Act.
These federal programs do not simply extend to Manhattan-based first responders, current and former teachers and former students. Anyone who was present in the affected area, be they workers, residents or even commuters, from September 11, 2001 through May 2002 may be eligible for health screenings and, if sick, compensation. Many currently eligible survivors now live outside of the affected area, meaning they may be unaware of their eligibility.
Yesterday morning, the Confucius Plaza Tenants Association; attorney Michael Barasch, who has represented over 10,000 first responders and survivors sickened after 9/11; community health activists and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) launched an information campaign to make residents, area workers and former students from the targeted areas know they may qualify for federal health programs.
“While the dust has settled from the World Trade Center attacks, the physical ramifications of 9/11 are still with many,” U.S. Senator Charles Schumer said in a statement to show his support for the campaign. “As a proud sponsor of the James Zadroga 9-11 Health and Compensation Act, I am urging any individual who suffered residual effects from the dangerous toxins following the attacks to come forward and get the assistance they need. Thank you to the UFT, Confucius Plaza Tenants Association and other Coalition members for pushing this important informational outreach campaign.”
The press conference was to promote the first in a series of 9/11 health forums will be held Saturday, Nov. 18, at PS 124 on Division Street in Chinatown. The two-hour forum will share enrollment information about the World Trade Center Health Program and the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund, two federal programs that cover regular New Yorkers as well as first-responders.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said attorney Michael Barasch, whose firm has represented over 12,000 9/11 survivors. “We now represent 22 teachers and students, almost all of whom have come to us since we began spreading the word over the last two months. Four of those teachers have breast cancer and nine of the former students, all now in their mid-20s, are suffering from lung diseases and cancers.”
The UFT began its outreach with the retired teachers in a dozen lower Manhattan schools, and has branched out to work with the schools’ parent-teacher associations to reach former students and families who may have left the neighborhood. Additional schools and neighborhoods will be added.
“Our members are always surprised that they are covered. They think of firefighters and police and rescue teams being included, but not themselves,” said Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers.
“9/11 took a devastating toll on our City, and the long-term health implications for individuals exposed to environmental toxins are still unfolding. It is imperative that everyone who was in the vicinity, during both the actual attack and the subsequent recovery efforts understand their rights and the resources available to them,” said Public Advocate Letitia James. “We cannot go back and change the events of the past, but ensuring that our survivors maintain the best possible quality of life helps New Yorkers make resilience the lasting legacy of our collective tragedy.”
The World Trade Center Health Program provides health evaluations and treatment for eligible people who were in the dust and cloud on 9/11, or who worked, lived or attended school in the affected area on 9/11 and the following months. More information is available here:https://www.cdc.gov/wtc/faq.html. A map of the coverage area is here: https://www.cdc.gov/wtc/define.html.
The September 11 Victim Compensation Fund compensates for physical harm or death caused by the 9/11 terror attacks or the cleanup efforts in the immediate aftermath. The program was extended to accept claims through Dec. 18, 2020. https://www.vcf.gov/pdf/VCF_FactSheet.pdf . More information is available here. A map of the coverage area is here: https://www.vcf.gov/nycExposureMap.html
