Putting your item on
the VIA noticeboard
- some guidelines.
What sort of thing?
The noticeboard is set up for three kinds of item:- Checking out whether something bad that you know about is part of a larger, and worrying, trend
- Good news - stories, announcements, events
- Asking for information.
But if you have something which you think deserves to pinned up, but doesn't fit any of these, then let us know. Maybe it's time to add pins of new colours!
What won't we accept?
If in doubt, ask. Meanwhile, a few hints:
- We want items which are consistent with VIA's aims and beliefs.
- We won't accept items about so-called 'therapies', technologies, and obscure research programmes that enhance the status of professionals and academics at the expense of people with learning difficulties.
- We won't accept anything which promotes a view of people with learning difficulties as less than fully human, objects of charity or pity, or any of the other familiar negative images.
- Items which specifically concern children with learning difficulties - or specifically concern adults - are fine.
- We need to keep the focus on people with learning difficulties, so we are unlikely to accept material about people with other disabilities, except where there is a clear link to people with learning difficulties. Items about broad issues such as mainstreaming in education, or individualised payments, which clearly concern people with learning difficulties, are fine.
How should it read?
We reserve the right to edit, but would much prefer to get items in a shape and style which can simply be added to the noticeboard. So please keep it to a few sentences. (Major campaigns might deserve to be put on the Campaigns page.) We'd rather you didn't use the term 'mentally retarded'. The style should be straightforward, clear, and human.Other hints
- Events:
- We plan to update these pages as often as is practical and necessary, and that's most unlikely to be more than twice a month. So don't leave it to the last minute to contact us.
- Information wanted:
- Remember that these pages can be accessed all over the world, so make it clear whether you wanted information from other countries, where the circumstances may be very different from your own.
- Stories:
- We like stories - so much more vital and inspiring than dull reports. But they are much better with a bit of context, better still if they reflect larger themes. Thus a story about Amy's move from an institution to her own home this month might be OK. Better if we're also told that she'd been in the institution for forty years. Much better still if she was the last one to leave, and they started knocking the place down as soon as she had gone!
- Contact points:
- Most items will need a contact point for people to respond. We'd much rather you were the contact person, though we might act as go-between if there were a good reason. But remember that anyone can use the contact route you offer, for any reason they choose.
Who'll see it?
No idea. In time we should have some information about the number of hits, but it's all too new at the moment.What's the catch?
There isn't one. Well, OK, just one request: We'd like to know what responses you get. In the case of Information Wanted items, we may ask for a summary of the information given, to pass on to others who are interested.
How do I submit a contribution?
Send to Andrew Holman, Steve Dowson, or snail mail to VIA.
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Page last updated 20/11/95