So now the question is, how best to put what I've learned to use? I have a few ideas clinking around my head, one of which is to use part of this blog to share EI Policies, experiences. Educate. Not only those who stop by to read the posts, but to further educate myself on what my role is in life, as the mommy to a special needs daughter. So the bargain I've made with myself is, for every post I make about EI, be it a concept, definition, step, experience, I have do something more with the post. In other words, the blog post enough isn't enough. I have to convert it into an action.
My plan for this week to was write about policy, a term we discussed on Saturday's meeting. We spent time discussing public policy, but the idea of *policy* can be extended to a lot of things. Dictionary.com defines policy as "a definite course of action adopted for the sake of expediency, facility, etc"
Policy should benefit someone or something, such as the group, people, or philosophy the policy's organization represents. Sometimes that's not the case. For example, it was against our health insurance policy to cover out-of-network care...but after a long battle and a good fight, they adjusted their policy for our situation.
Sometimes a policy makes no sense. My sister Kathleen is a marathon runner. She contacted the National Spina Bifida Association to have them be a "Charitable Organization" through the New York Road Runners, which would allow for some runners to raise a minimum money for the SBA in order to run in the 2010 ING NYC Marathon. We have been anxiously awaiting the NYRR's response, which was almost a month overdue.
Yesterday, the SBA heard from NYRR: They were accepted!!!
UPDATE on Wed 5/19: SBA HAS DECIDED TO ACCEPT, AND WILL BE A CHARITY ORGANIZATION FOR THE 2010 ING NYC MARATHON!!!
!!What a wonderful success story of fighting for what you want! Details to come as we have just received word from Cindy Brownstein herself (umm, President and CEO of the National Spina Bifida Association!), and they are willing to make this happen.
This just goes to show that persistence and sharing your passion pay off. I cannot express how excited I am!!!
PS-This isn't to say I scrapping the foundation idea! I would love to see Spina Bifida awareness at the level of other major causes. We are limitless, and while it may be lofty, it's lofty to crawl when your legs don't move, stand when you can't bear weight, walk when your prognosis says otherwise, and SB kiddos are doing these things every day.
This just goes to show that persistence and sharing your passion pay off. I cannot express how excited I am!!!
PS-This isn't to say I scrapping the foundation idea! I would love to see Spina Bifida awareness at the level of other major causes. We are limitless, and while it may be lofty, it's lofty to crawl when your legs don't move, stand when you can't bear weight, walk when your prognosis says otherwise, and SB kiddos are doing these things every day.
