Feel free to discuss any topic of general interest, so long as nothing you post here is likely to be interpreted as insulting, and/or inflammatory, nor clearly designed to provoke any individual or group. Please be considerate of others feelings, and they will be considerate of yours.
Note that the design of this card is very different from the design of the previous cards that have been available for this purpose. I Named this a "Disability" card and referred to the Americans With Disabilities Act (because MC does qualify as a disability under the ADA).
IMO this sends a more powerful message than the language typically used on these "Restroom Access" cards. And since most people will not recognize MC as an IBD, I believe that it's more effective to simply refer to it as an IBD and let the Microscopic Colitis Foundation logo get the message across by finesse.
So I'm looking for critiques/comments/thoughts/whatever. Is this what we want? Should the title be "Medical Information Card" instead of "Medical Disability Card? Is there anything about the wording that needs to be changed? Bear in mind that there are all kinds of things that can be printed on a card, but it all has to fit in the small space in an appealing layout, and still be large enough print to be relatively easy to read by most people.
Is this design too radically different to be effective? Or is the originality a plus. For one thing, by having a radically different design, we shouldn't have to worry about being sued by anyone in the business of selling similar cards.
This is a 3.5 x 2 inch business card size image. Click on the image of the card to see an enlargement that is much easier to read. And yes, I just now noticed that the word "autoimmune" should not have the hyphen That happened when I was trying various ways to squeeze the text into the space available and I didn't notice it before I saved the design. So that will need to be corrected.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Suggest keep Medical Disability Card. We have folks struggling to drive to work, folks who work out in the field, folks who travel out on the road for work, and folks just struggling to get out to the grocery store. I think most won't use it unless it is a dire emergency--I mean who wants to draw attention to the fact that you have an IBD.
Consider delete Autoimmune (I don't think it is necessary and a lot of people have autoimmune situations that they live with)
Consider -is there a way to make Restroom Access Act aka Ally's Law bold or stand out so it is more visible to person reading without card looking tacky, not sure about this and not sure if necessary to do....just a thought
As you know the one that I emailed you was pretty wimpy so this is a huge improvement.
I like leaving the autoimmune because that lets people know that there is no real cure (it's not something you get over..........flares can occur)...........
Jari
Diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis, June 29th, 2015
Gluten free, Dairy free, and Soy free since July 3rd, 2015
This is a really great card.....I'm having another one of those grieving moments....I don't want to be labeled Disabled But in reality I suppose it really is a truth isn't it. Once someone has a Dx of Colitis whether it is MC, LC or CC it pretty much states who you've become.
I'm not sure when I would use it....I suppose going thru airport lines, or waiting for reservations. My job allows me to leave my desk when ever I need to...what other examples are there?
Thanks
Erica
To Succeed you have to Believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a Reality - Anita Roddick
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
OK, here it is without "autoimmune". Bolding those words turned out to be a little tricky because the program I was using insisted on changing all the text anytime a font change was made (no selective changes), but I figured out a way to do it anyway. Here it is with and without bolding, and I added "with no known cure".
The term "disability" in my opinion is what it takes to get across to people who are reluctant by default, the point that this is a serious disease that is covered by the ADA. Most business owners and managers have already had to make changes or concessions because of the ADA, so they recognize it as carrying some weight.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Cards of this type are useful mainly while traveling to and from work, shopping, and traveling in general. There are a few members who have had problems getting their supervisors to recognize that MC patients need quick, easy access to a restroom, and this card might help with that type of situation. But obviously most people will have already worked out some sort of arrangement at work, and shouldn't need a card for that.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
tex wrote:Note that the design of this card is very different from the design of the previous cards that have been available for this purpose. I Named this a "Disability" card and referred to the Americans With Disabilities Act (because MC does qualify as a disability under the ADA).
Tex
So as much as I hate to admit that I have been diagnosed with a permanent disability, this is it for me. I am in such a horrible place right now that this card is EXACTLY what I need!
Thank you so much Tex for jumping on this so quickly. Please tell me what I need to do to get one, I'll send payment wherever you need me to. Not feeling like I could go into that hotel the other day and ask to use the restroom was so appalling.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Becky
Diagnosed Microscopic Lymphocytic Colitis 4/2016
DF, SF
OK, my next question then is about how we should go about this. Is a downloadable PDF that can be printed out on a home printer a solution? Many printers will handle card stock, but the problem is if someone doesn't already have card stock on hand, a package will typically cost something like 15–20 bucks. We can make these things for a fraction of that amount. And anyone printing the card at home would have to cut it out of the 8.5 by 11 inch sheet.
I have several laser printers, but none of them print color. Personally, I think the blue features look kinda nice. I just now tried printing it on an inkjet printer and it looks pretty good, even on plain paper. Most inkjet ink fades over time though.
It shouldn't cost much to have these printed in a local print shop, I would think, especially in large batches. Do they need to be laminated?
That would makes them more durable, but increase the cost/work.
Any thoughts?
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I think they should be done on card stock and laminated so I could not do that here at home and have that look like it was something real and professional. I would be glad to make a contribution (how many cards would a $25 contribution cover?????) and if others did the same thing this would be available to all people, even those who cannot afford to pay for a card. I'm on SS so I don't just toss money around but I think these cards are a great idea as I've had to argue with people before about using a restroom when it was critical and I don't want to do that again. And when it is critical, we are in no shape to try to run to the next available restroom.
OK, I've been weighing everyone's input, and looking at the options, and I agree that if the card doesn't look professional and authentic it may be worthless in some situations, so I believe the best option would be to go with plastic cards, similar to credit cards. The upfront cost is much higher (the printers are not cheap), but surely this would provide the most impressive results.
We (the board of directors for the MC Foundation) are thinking that offering a card to anyone who makes maybe a 10–20 dollar contribution to the foundation would receive a card if they want one (and I don't see many reasons why anyone would not want one). Imagine what it might be worth at a sporting event for example, where the lines to the restrooms can get mighty long at times.
We could even personalize these things with an ID type photo, name, address, etc. (or anything else), if anyone wanted, though I'm not sure that customization would be a popular option.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
That one has capital letters in the wrong places (beginning of every line whether it's a new sentence or not). I like the 1st one you did..............
Jari
Diagnosed with Collagenous Colitis, June 29th, 2015
Gluten free, Dairy free, and Soy free since July 3rd, 2015
But in reality I suppose it really is a truth isn't it. Once someone has a Dx of Colitis whether it is MC, LC or CC it pretty much states who you've become.
