Posted by Racer on May 18, 2004, at 16:50:36
In reply to Re: How about a Practical Resources board?, posted by Dr. Bob on May 18, 2004, at 2:00:47
> > How about a place where people can trade information about things like who and how to contact about SSI...
>
> Interesting idea...
>
I'm glad you think so. I do think that it could be helpful to a lot of people here, because I know I've seen a lot of the same sorts of issues I've got posted over the years.
> > it's got it's drawbacks
>
> Such as?
>
Ah, now you're asking me to think, which is damned hard right now. The first drawback I can come up with is the time involved in getting it set up. I don't think that the standard babble-script would be the best solution -- this is something that I think would be best served by resource listings, maybe based on an initial question from a poster, with verified information listed in response. That sort of thing would take a lot of time, although maybe one of the posters here would be willing to put some of that time in. (I can't offer right now -- I don't have enough inner resources right now to do much more than lie on the sofa with a quilt over my head, otherwise I would offer. At least that's an improvement for me: I'm more likely to offer to do a lot of things, then find that I'm stretched too thin and fall apart totally -- even though I usually get them done. So, at least I know now that I can't do this one. Maybe another time.)The biggest drawback I can think of, though, involves liability. That's why a legal disclaimer would be a really good idea. Even though every board has the disclaimer that this is all anecdotal, that our mileage will vary, etc, I think that when you start getting into areas like this, it's worth talking to a lawyer. Better safe than sorry. (And one of my favorite horse boards shut down after a threatened lawsuit over something much less life-affecting than this sort of thing, so it really is worth checking with a good attorney.)
I don't know what it would look like, but I think something for practical resources would be really, really helpful.
Some of the sorts of things that I think would be good would be, for example, the contact information for the drug companies' compassionate need programs, sorted by drug name; state by state contact information for disability applications; any local low-fee therapy clinics anyone knows of in their area; what to do when you just can't find any support locally; successful strategies when you're having trouble navigating the local mental health system; etc. The compassionate need programs are there, but it's so hard to find them.
Thank you for expressing interest. If there's enough interest, but it hasn't happened by the time I get a little bit better, maybe I will put in that offer.
> Bob
poster:Racer
thread:347438
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20040307/msgs/348290.html