A FORUM can be very exciting! It provides a way for many people to discuss different topics and share ideas. It’s a way to find useful information and help others who may be in similar situations.

It’s important to remember that anyone can read what others have written without being registered or logged in. To contribute information to the forum you must be registered and logged in. (Look for the "Register" link on the forum to register as a new user. Look for the "Log in" link to log in. Once you are logged in, you will see "Log Out" in the upper right corner of the browser window.)

Take time to read the topics being discussed and the comments made by other visitors.

Before you add your own comments, or raise new topics, check out the following guidelines for using the forum:

Forum Etiquette

• Get a feeling for the tone of the forum so you can participate accordingly.
• Don’t use all caps – other visitors might think you’re shouting at them!
• Respect the views of others. Write as you would speak in person.
• Keep your discussion relevant to the topic.
• If you want to change subjects, start another Topic.
• If something isn’t clear, simply ask for clarification.
• Ignore any member who seems out of line — don’t take the bait.
• Relax and enjoy! Go all out to get the information you're seeking, and wherever possible, help others seeking answers to their questions.
• IMPORTANT: VisionAWARE reserves the right to edit all content for appropriateness without notification and to block any user who abuses the spirit of the forum.

Let’s Get Started

Start by clicking the name of the forum: Coping with Vision Loss Members’ Forum.

To read what is on the forum, click on a topic that interests you, such as Handy Gadgets.

You will then see the discussions related to the Handy Gadgets topic:

How to participate in a discussion

Registered users may post comments and reply to other comments. If you want to respond or start a new Topic, you first need to register. Remember your username and password, because you will need it the next time you want to participate.

• To register, click the Register button.
• To login, click the Login button.

Enter your username and password:

After logging in, you can participate in a discussion. Click Post Reply to post information related to the Topic:

To comment on someone else’s posting, click the Reply button in the lower right corner:

You will see a form where you can add your own comment. When you are finished replying, hit the Post Comment button at the bottom of the reply form. You can change a post that you have made at any time, but you cannot change a post made by someone else.

To start a NEW topic for discussion, click Post new Forum Topic button.

Then fill out the form that is displayed.
You need to provide the following information on the form shown below:

1. Subject: Enter a “Topic Name” in the Subject field. In this example the new topic will be named “Personal Web Sites.”
2. Body: Briefly describe what is appropriate for the topic.
3. Categories: Select a Category. In this case we have chosen “Coping with Vision Loss Members’ Forum.”
4. Hit the Submit button when you are finished.