The Reasons Why ...

The Reasons Why …

Filed under:New Parenting Aspergers Website Launch — posted by admin on March 1, 2009 @ 3:47 am

Hi there – It’s Dave Angel again with another update on the new website www.ParentingAspergersCommunity.com

I’ve had a few people ask me why I’ve decided to create this new website so I’ve decided to list off the main reasons …

Reason Number 1 – The increase in numbers

Well about two and a half years ago when I set up the first Parenting Aspergers website I didn’t know how popular it would become, and so I was able to answer everyone’s email and questions at the beginning quite quickly with no real problems.

Now with literally thousands of people receiving my weekly emails and writing back to me with questions it’s just become impossible to provide the type of help and support that I want to, using that old system.

Along the way I tried using a “Help Desk” system which some of you may have tried – but to be honest it broke down so many times that It just wasn’t worth bothering with.

Then of course I had all the problems with receiving 100’s of spam emails every day into the main Parenting Aspergers email address.

So rather then spend half my life deleting emails for potions and pills and other such medical delights I had to scrap that email address and use my current email address dave.angel@live.co.uk

Which is fine but for anyone else who uses hotmail you’ll know that it’s a bit clunky and too slow to be able to effectively respond to the number of emails I get each day from parents.

That may have been slightly long-winded but I hope it fully explains Reason Number 1 – The increase in numbers.

So the great news is that with the new website I will be able to communicate directly with people through sending private messages on the site and also answering queries directly on the discussion forum.

Reason Number 2 – Unreliable and slow technology

I tried to get around problem number 1 above by adding the blog about a year ago.

This gave people the capacity to add their comments after each blog post.

This has worked OK for people to communicate their thoughts – but it can be very slow and time-consuming scrolling through all the different comments on each post.

Certainly too time-consuming for me to be able to individually reply to each comment as I would ideally like (some times I can get up to 70 or 80 comments on there per week).

Also as regular readers know I have had all kinds of technical problems on the blog; with entire articles being lost off the site and even worse …

When I had a period of about 2 months that some nasty online hackers were messing with the blog constantly and putting all kinds of rubbish spam on there, as well as causing the blog to completely break down on numerous occasions.

At that point I was very close to giving up on the whole thing and shutting the site down completely.

And then I found out that these problems were caused by the free software that I use for the blog just not being up to the job of running such a growing website.

So the choice left to me was to either shut the site down or have something built that can handle the growth of the website, the volume of information on it and the sheer numbers of people that I am now helping each week.

And the choice to build something bigger and better is the one I’ve taken.

This will also enable me to bring even more information to you and make www.ParentingAspergersCommunity.com the number one place on the internet for parents of children with Aspergers Syndrome.

So I have now invested in some pretty robust “industrial strength” software to power the site – that will make things quicker, safer and more effective.

And this robust new software will definitely stop the problem of unreliable and slow technology.

Reason Number 3 – The bigger picture

As the Parenting Aspergers website has evolved, and more and more parents have come onboard, I have felt that I wanted to create something even bigger and more meaningful.

I have wanted to put together a place where people can access the latest research, make real friendships with other parents, share great resources and information with one other and become an online “centre of excellence”.

I have also wanted to be able to build this site into something powerful that can help to advocate and be a “voice” for both parents and their children with Aspergers.

So with this in mind I have drawn up the following mission statement for The Parenting Aspergers Community:

The mission of Parenting Aspergers Community is to make a positive difference in the lives of parents who have children with Aspergers; by ensuring that they can access the specialist information and support that they need to help them in their day-to-day parenting role.

This will be done by providing a specialist website with information in the form of articles, video and audio presentations across a wide range of topics. There is also a community forum at the heart of the website to allow parents to communicate directly with other parents and professionals to gain support and advice.

It is the belief of Parenting Aspergers Community that parents deserve to be given the best possible chance to parent their child with Aspergers; and that being able to access specialist support and advice is an essential part of this.

My apologies if this post has been a little longer than usual but I wanted to really get this information across to you.

Have a great Day

Dave Angel

comments (15)

15 comments »

Yours first website was great as finally parents were able to get some help and advice on topics that affected their child and family dealing with Aspergers as there is so little help from the professional side. I found that we had to go and look for advice (how we found your website) on how to help our son deal with his many issues as we were given a diagnosis and left to deal with it. I can only imagine how good this new site is going to be and wanted to say Thank You for creating such a space.

Comment by Laura Cameron — March 1, 2009 @ 5:04 am
I have found your site a great help as I am looking into the possibility of my son being Aspergers. He is an adult who has had quite a difficult life and I have for a long time thought that he had some sort of problem that I cannot put my finger on. If anyone else has a member of their family who was not diagnosed until adulthood maybee they could share their experiences.
Thanks

Comment by Sylvia Davies — March 1, 2009 @ 5:17 am
Hear hear! I find a lot of the blogs a great source of information and support when there is limited professional understanding of AS in everyday life – still picking up tips wherever I can 18 months after diagnosis. Thanks Dave

Comment by Judy — March 1, 2009 @ 6:49 am
Great Job Dave! You provide precise information for all readers. Thank Goodness you created a
new sturdier site! Keep up your wonderful work!

Comment by Patricia B — March 1, 2009 @ 7:24 am
Dear Dave, I just want to Thank You for sticking with your goal to have a website for parents of children with Aspergers. I look forward to your emails. I have been so enlightened about so many questions I had about my son and Aspergers Syndrome. Please keep up the good work and bless you for your determination.

Comment by Maureen M — March 1, 2009 @ 8:16 am
Hi there Maureen, Patricia, Judy, Sylvia, Laura. Thanks to all of you for the vote of confidence and glad you are looking forward to the new site – I’m excited too.
Cheers
Dave

Comment by admin — March 1, 2009 @ 9:29 am
Dave-Your website has not only helped my husband and I-many times I have forwarded articles to my son’s teacher(s). John is in 5th grade, and in a general education classroom, and your advice has provided assistance in many situations. Thank you for your time and efforts on behalf of all of our children-and adults too!

Comment by Mary — March 1, 2009 @ 9:50 am
Thanks, Dave. I am on dialup and sometimes I can’t download your messages. This new website is a big help for me. Your blogs, messages, and comments from other parents have encouraged me. My 13 year old grandson, who lives with me, was diagnosed with Aspie only a few years ago. Now his teachers, his dad, my family and I have the means to help him live a more productive life with the understanding he needs and deserves. Keep up the good work …. I need this site as well as all the other aspie parents and families. God bless you and your staff.

Comment by Andrea — March 1, 2009 @ 10:43 am
Thanks Dave. Everyone on here, all both sides of the ocean, are dealing with the same issues, but at different times. Your sight allows us to use our knowledge to help others and get help for ourselves and our children. Whatever it takes, I’m glad you are keeping this sight alive because it is much needed and appreciated.

Comment by Jodie Cooper — March 1, 2009 @ 11:26 am
Thank you for all you do! At times I feel like giving up! But your emails help me go on for my son and myself. It is a very very bumpy road. And, now he is 13 it is even more difficult. I worry about his future…I don’t want him getting in trouble with the law or get hooked on drugs or alcohol all out of innocense.
Keep up the good work and Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Comment by janice rushen — March 1, 2009 @ 1:17 pm
I was so pleased to see the comment left by Sylvia Davies on March 1/09. I too have an adult son who I suspect is an Asperbers child. It just explains too much to ignore. It is breaking my heart as I really don’t know how to help and I feel so terrible that I could have missed this for so long. A friend sent me your link and said it just reminded her SO much of my son and after reading everything and buying your books – I agree. I am relieved and heartbroken and lost all at the same time. Thanks for taking the time to help other parents like me.

Comment by Valerie Samson — March 1, 2009 @ 1:44 pm
Thank you Dave for the wonderful work you are doing to provide valid and honest information and help to us as parents/grandparents in helping our Aspie children. The new blog is going to be such an asset for everyone. Your dedication is a blessing and may God bless you in return.

Comment by Mary Dalton — March 1, 2009 @ 2:30 pm
You site is also great for aspies. So many times I read bits & pieces that are so familiar. It’s hard to tell which bits of me are aspie and which bits are me. Then I have to decide if I can change those parts, or it’s just how I am. Sometimes just being aware of the ‘quirks’ is enough, I am learning (still at 45) what is too much or not enough – emotion, determination, silliness. My kids think I’m the most fun mum in the school – yahoo!

PROBLEM – If I make a mistake at work, I am in trouble for being negative. I feel negative with myself for making the mistake. I also “laugh inappropriately”. I’ve been trying very hard not to laugh, then other people ask me what’s wrong. It seems impossible to find the balance. “If I didn’t laugh, I’d cry.”

Comment by Carolin — March 1, 2009 @ 5:06 pm
Thankyou Dave for providing parents with this valuable resource. Sometimes I’m on the brink of despair with my teenager aspie’s behaviour. Reading about other parents with similar experiences makes you feel less alone and the advice proffered by others is often useful and certainly comforting. I’d also like to thank you for not using your website to sell so-called cures to a vulnerable and often desperate group of people. You are obviously a person with integrity, generosity and compassion!

Comment by Tibor Endrody — March 1, 2009 @ 9:21 pm
I am responding to Sylvia and Valerie. My son is 20 and is highly intelligent. He has always made straight A’s and is doing so now in college. I too, for years knew something was not quite right, but had no idea something like Aspergers even existed. He has no friends and has struggled for years in the area of social relationships. He was bullied all year in 7th grade, but we didn’t even know it till almost the end of the school year. Now that I understand more of the characteristics of Aspergers, he has many of them. He spends hours and hundreds of dollars trying to find natural remedies to help with his problems. We have never discussed Aspergers with him and struggle with whether to try and have him diagnosed or whether the knowledge of knowing what the real problem is will send him into deeper depression. It has been very heartbreaking to watch, and we just pray for the right answers and the best way to help him. He already thinks that something is wrong with him. He hates himself because he does not know how to be at ease in social situations. He is sometimes very angry and isolates a lot. His Dad and I, and his two sisters love him so much, but we are all at a loss to know how to help him. Do your sons know and how do they react? I would welcome any suggestions or advice. We live in the Dallas are if anyone knows of a good doctor or counseling center. Thank you.

Comment by Sandy Tiso — March 2, 2009 @ 12:07 am