THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: IT’S OK TO ASK FOR HELP

Today is the international day of persons with disabilities. According to the WHO about 15% of the world’s population lives with some form of disability, of whom 2-4% experience significant difficulties in functioning. This figure is increasing as a result of population growth and the aging process. A significant portion of individuals with limited abilities is made up of those who have lost or who were born without limbs. The WHO also estimates that only 1 in 10 people in need has access to assistive products, including prostheses and orthoses. 

The Red Line Foundation provides assistance to people who, for various reasons, cannot afford prosthetics. However, in the course of our work, we have discovered that patients often find it difficult to seek help from other people. For this reason, we would like to share tips and recommendations for those who have decided to apply for financial support for medical purposes via the Internet.

The first thing to understand is that what’s important is not how many people see your ad, but rather that it reaches those who can potentially help. Therefore, you need to determine in advance which sites are suitable. When posting on sites like gofundme.com, make sure your ad is in the right category. Decide in advance which keywords to use. This will help charities find your appeal through search engines.

We understand that, when faced with a difficult life situation, it is hard to avoid emotions, but texts that provide clear and objective information with figures and facts are much more effective. The announcement must contain the name, age, diagnosis, and photo of the person who needs help. It is important to explain why this treatment is necessary and how it will affect your life. Let people know in plain language how the disease has affected your everyday life. After all, other people do not always understand the difficulties that you have had to face.

It is also important to indicate the amount of money you need and that this can be proved by the hospital in which you plan to undergo treatment. Your goal is not merely to elicit empathy, but to get a specific tangible result.

One of the most common problems that we've had to deal with is an inability to reach the contact person. If you really intend to help your friend or relative raise money for the necessary operation, take the time to check your email and monitor the relevance of the information in the ad. Before offering help, people and organizations sometimes check out the case and a lack of response will make them doubt the reliability of the data on the site. If the fundraising has already been completed or the situation has changed, quickly remove the ad so you don't mislead people.

Be prepared for the fact that public fundraising will require to share your story with others. You will have to bring both yourself and your family into sharp focus, because you are asking for the support of people who have never seen you and do not know you. That said, there is nothing embarrassing  about asking for help: it is often the most effective way to solve a problem that is difficult to handle alone. You probably never thought about this, but there are plenty of people and organizations who want to help people for free, and for them doing so is very important.