[nabs-l] Crowd funding sites

[Kaiti Shelton]

Hi all,

Has anyone here ever used crowd funding sites to gain funds for
educational endeavors?  If so, how successful were you in this?  Did
you mention your blindness on the site, or avoid it when describing
why you would benefit from receiving these funds?

I am trying to use youcaring.com to raise funds for a study abroad
trip this summer.  I did mention my blindness, however I only did as a
means of sharing my story and how it really goes full-circle.  I was
also very careful to portray blindness and disability in general in a
positive way.  At least in my mind, it is important for people to know
that I am blind, because it is a huge part of why I want to work with
kids who have disabilities in the future.  I especiallywant to do this
in music therapy, because I had a positive experience with a music
therapist who was blind.  She has acted as a role model for my parents
and I since I was really little, and now is advising my professors and
I on best practices for accommodating in my program.

If anyone has used these sites successfully before, I'd appreciate
feedback on my site.  Any suggestions I could use to potentially make
it better would be appreciated.  The link is:

http://www.youcaring.com/other/music-therapy-student-to-enrich-jamaican-lives-this-summer/264447

Thanks,

-- 
Kaiti