(CNN) -- Benilda Caixeta, who was paralyzed from her shoulders down, was one of many residents of New Orleans, Louisiana, still trying to evacuate when Hurricane Katrina struck on August 29, 2005. But despite her repeated calls to the local transportation system that served people with disabilities, as well as to 911, help never arrived. She was found dead in her apartment several days later, floating next to her wheelchair. Monday marks the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. As we celebrate this historic law, which delivered civil rights to millions of Americans, we must also acknowledge how far we still have to go to live up to the law's promise -- especially when it comes to planning for disasters and protecting the vulnerable such as Benilda Caixeta.
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Those with disabilities are especially at risk in disasters, says FEMA's Craig Fugate
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Help did not arrive for victims in such disasters as Hurricane Katrina
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Fugate: Historically relief authorities haven't planned for those with disabilities
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He says FEMA is taking on the challenge, but there's a long way to go
At @placeholder, that means continuing to learn from the mistakes of the past to better protect and serve the entire community.