OT: Awareness versus Action (long)

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
OT: Awareness versus Action (long)
7
Fri, 04-27-2007 - 8:29pm

I wanted to run something completely OT past you guys, because I am genuinely confused. Maybe knowing about Autism awareness and advocacy as you guys do;

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2006
Fri, 04-27-2007 - 10:40pm

Could you incorporate a little of both?

With the way you could word it, along with facts.
Not sounding TOO clinical but informative enough. People get weird about stuff. We understand that 100%.
If you "dumb it down" in chatty kinda way, it would get more looked at.

Big word scare people. It's sad how so many people live in bubbles, oblivious to what's happening in the world.
*sign

Hope this helps

Nora

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
Fri, 04-27-2007 - 11:35pm

I couldn't agree with you more, Paula. Awareness is fine...but in the end, it's action that makes a difference. Lofty goals or not, "poor, poor pitiful me" stories really don't do much for me.

Amy

Meez 3D avatar avatars games

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Sat, 04-28-2007 - 12:41am

Amy I'm following you hehehe....

Yep I think I agree with both Nora and Amy. A little of both and whatever makes people sit up and think you know?

You've got people who are totally fact orientated, and you've got people that are totally sensitive/story people to grab attention with.

Good luck with it sweetie! Let us know what happens k?

Lainie

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Sat, 04-28-2007 - 9:26am

You see,

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Sat, 04-28-2007 - 10:28am

Dear Paula,

I am also in complete agreement here, and also if you come at people with an actual outlined plan and direct line of where their money will go and what it will accomplish.... They give more!

Sara

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-12-2005
Sat, 04-28-2007 - 6:21pm

Hey Paula, speaking as someone who gets TONS of 'send money' letters from various good causes, can I make a few suggestions? Oh wait, that's what you asked for here, huh? *forehead slap**

First, there are people, like me, who can't afford to give money to every good cause that comes along, but we still want to help. What little money we can afoord to give goes to Easter Seals (who helped with both Jade and Angel), Children's Miracle Network (again, got direct help), our local school district, and lately, APOV (lol, does that even count?). BUT, I fold and send letters for SBCF for breat cancer, and put up fliers and hand out educational litterature for Girl Power (Rett's foundation). There are lots of other things you can ask people to do besides send moeney.

The thing that comes first to mind is to ask the recipient to bring the letter in to their own drs and ask them, as medical professionals, to take the time to educate themselves more on the condition. Not so they can dx it, but so they can better identify potential sufferers and get them tested by specialist earlier so they can get treament and help earlier.

I keep thinking of how extremely lucky we were that the on-call ortho when Angel was born was 'slightly familiar' with Poilcy's Syndrome. She got Angel in to see Dr. P within 24-hrs, and that made all the difference in the world. She couldn't dx it herself, but she knew someone who could. Having the best specialist on any given condition right there in your own city doesn't help if neither you or your regular dr even knows the condition exists.

Just a thought.

~Candes

APOV on Autism

Avatar for betz67
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 04-29-2007 - 9:35pm

My cold hard opinion. Give me a cause and I'll at least read the letter. Give me a sob story and information and I'll throw it away.

hope this helps.

Betsy