Letter regarding "free" cards

Call me horrible. I honestly don't care. I wrote this letter today after seeing the "free" cards that we received in the mail.

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Hi, and a happy Tuesday to you!

We recently received the "free" cards in the mail. They're beautiful! Clearly, you have an abundance of talented artists in your ranks. I'm sure you've heard this before, but I believe it bears repeating. The implied messages behind the mailings rather concern me. I say this, not as someone who is entirely unfamiliar with the disabled world, but as a mom, aunt and daughter-in-law that lives with the daily reality of disabilities. Our son is a spared quadriplegic due to congenital brain malformations, my father-in-law is a paraplegic due to a farming accident, one nephew is severely brain injured from an accident and a niece has battled her way back from a brain injury, also due to an accident (all three accidents were in different places on the globe at very different times). I say all of that to assure you that I "get it", at least as much as a caregiver and family member can. Disability is tough. I've watched my son cry at the window as he watched his siblings run and play soccer in the street. I could take him to watch, but he'll never run and play the same way that his three siblings will. He can't talk, eat, speak or do a basic math equation. Seizures are a daily occurrence. In all of this, and in all of my interactions with the other disabled family members, I trust I have never resorted to guilt or pity. Both are degrading to the person who already has above average challenges. When you send out cards and offer a guilt trip with a good helping of pity thrown in, it actually causes deep inner turmoil for me. It would be the same as if my son were to take pictures (the extent of his coordination as long as he has a big button to push), print them and hand them out door to door. After saying they're free, I would prompt him to use his speech device to ask for money. Why? Not because he's talented (and I think he could develop that skill). Not because he's worked hard (which he does, as I know you do). Not because it's a gift; it's not. It's because he's disabled and the person now holding his picture should feel guilty if he/she does not pay for the poor, disabled man's work. Would I advertise? Sure. Send out catalogues to join all of the other junkmail that people get in their mailboxes? Maybe. "Give" something and imply that they should feel guilty for not buying it? No, thank you. I'm actually not even comfortable using the cards you sent. I didn't offer you the dignity of pursuing you because of your talent. They were given to me with a price attached; a heavy price for both you and me. I have told my son I won't feel sorry for him, but I will boldly walk to death's door to make him succeed. He is one of the most hilarious, confident, sassy individuals I know. It's not because he's disabled. It's because he's an amazing human. He just happens to be disabled. Of course, he actually celebrates his uniqueness. You'd love him.

Well, that was a tad long-winded. Summary: Can you find another way to advertise? Facebook ads (it's more effective that I expected), magazines, Google ads, etc. are great.

Twyla