Back to Cindy's Main Page
Cindy Olson
Duluth, GA
When Cindy (Cutter) Olson was diagnosed with MS 10 years ago, she knew she faced a choice. She could sit around and worry about her health care benefits and complain about the system. Or, she could do something more productive and positive.
Cindy chose the positive route, and for over a decade has lobbied for health care reform and the rights of people with disabilities. Her committment has included travels to Washington, DC to speak with her Georgia representatives about important health care legislation.
Cindy’s Betaseron® Champions of CourageSM grant underwrote additional travel to Washington DC to enable her to work with Representative Charles Norwood (R-GA) in generating support for a bi-partisan managed care reform bill designed to guarantee patients’ rights. She also supported a bill to provide a meaningful prescription drug benefit in Medicare.
"I have found that ongoing relationships are the key to getting our representatives’ ears and also to build credibility," says Cindy. "Many times the representatives know of no individuals with MS. I think we need to talk a great deal more to our representatives until they understand that individuals with MS will be in the position to contribute to society for a much longer period if we are assisted with coverage."
Cindy feels having MS has altered her life in ways she would never have imagined. "I have a much stronger sense of who I am, along with great strides in growth. I think you can choose to spend your energy in a negative or positive way. I have chosen to work on issues that can better the lives of those of us with disabilities."
- Updated
