Really excited to reach out today with an update about your forums. To cut to the chase, we’re undertaking significant work to upgrade and re-design the platform to be a space that better supports you and your needs.
I’m aware there have been some announcements like this in the past, which haven’t resulted in the change you were hoping for, and we appreciate that can be very disappointing.
However, while there is always the chance that things don’t work out as planned, this time around we are confident that we’ll be able to deliver significant improvements to your online experience. This has us really excited here at Beyond Blue and we’re so happy to start sharing with you more about what we’re working on, how we’re working on it, and when you’ll be seeing changes.
What we’re working on
Simply put, we’re setting up a brand-new technology platform to power these forums. We’re working with a great technology partner, who specialise in forums, to deliver a more modern experience with improved features (many of which you have been asking for for a long long time).
In setting up this new technology, we have a lot of work to do to make it align to your needs, to make it a safe space and to make it really valuable to you. But at the end of this process, we hope to launch with a fresh, modern website which looks and feels like a warm, supportive space, and which allows you to really get the most out of your interactions here.
To say we’re excited about this, truly is an under-statement 🙂
How we’re working on it
We know we cannot do this without your input and feedback. Beyond getting deeply acquainted with the existing feedback you’ve provided in these forums, we’ve also set up a ‘community group’ with seven of your peers to support this project. At the moment, we’re meeting weekly to talk through a range of questions, workshop out ideas and ensure we’re really representing community need with the work we’re doing.
From this point on, we’ll be using this space in the forums to provide updates on the work that’s in play, to get your feedback and comments and really bring you along this journey.
While we know we won’t get everything right the first time with this work, we know that involving you along the way, will help create a much better outcome in the end.
Please look forward to seeing more posts (hoping to update you all weekly) in this space!
When you can expect changes
At this point, we’re hoping to deliver the new platform in 2022 and are working hard to reach that goal. We’ll of course be updating you along the way if that changes.
Given we’re moving to a brand new technology platform, a lot of changes will come all at once, and this could be a bit of a shock when you log-in. We’ll be doing our best to share sneak-peeks of the platform as we’re working on it, so you can see ahead of time how things are shaping up and to help smooth that transition.
Although there will be new things to learn and explore, we’re confident that the platform will provide much improved functionality and really improve your experience overall.
Interacting with this thread
We would love to hear your thoughts, feedback and questions! While we can’t respond super quickly to all questions, the aim is to send answers to any questions we’ve received weekly on Fridays - so be sure to check back in then
Next week, we’ll share some early updates on some of the new features that are coming with this platform and start talking about what we’re currently working on.
Thank you so so much for your support and we’re so happy to be finally making improvements to this space for you.
Since joining, I am gradually getting around how to find (that's hard(, and post, (don't enjoy the limit of characters but understand why have a limit in the first place. You will teach me how to be more economical when writing).
Is there information for people who are using adaptive technology to help them if they have problems navagating or interacting with your website? Personally, my memory for what to do is at fault. Other people may be new to it and need some explicit instructions. I know this is a lot to ask, because this would need to be reviewed and updated as the technology marches on.
I'm not finding how to navagate to your font options via my keyboard, but I can use Ctrl+b/i. I don't care for number or bullet lists. I'd copy and paste from word if I did.
I don't mind emojis because my software can usually identify what they are - sometimes not quite accurately, I have discovered, but maybe that will improve, given more time and effort.
However, I am not hearing any embedded alternate text for images which would briefly describe what it is, for example, if I could include one for my avatar, I would write:
Head and forelimbs of a ginger and white cat on a maroon bedspread, with 'Mekitty' written in green.
I could say that because I know she was on my bedspread when I had taken the original photo. I have tried to use a Microsoft tool in Word documents to include text descriptions which text-to-speech readers are supposed to read when anyone using such adaptive technology encounters the images inscluded in Word documents. But it didn't work! I don't know what I did wrong. It is just really annoying to hear 'image' or as on this site, when encountering an avatar, I hear it is so-&-so's avatar. I can't visually interpret much of what I see, and less as time goes by.
I am interested in what avatars people are using.
I too would like to edit after posting, if only to correct spelling errors! I do try to check what I am about to post, but still some get past the editor! Of-course I do better when I am not v tired.
As much as I might enjoy the idea of including pictures or audio/video, I think that might make getting around more complicated. I would like 'fancy features' to be optional.
what is this 'symbol 2 0 0 b' my
text-to speech reader keeps announcing at the end of my text when I am writing
a post? I think I have removed it, sometimes, but notice nothing different when I do. It seems to do no harm, so just curious.
+ I had a post not posted, and received an email explaining I had tried to post it into a 'pinned thread specifically for BB champions.' My text-to-speech reader found the badge of what looks to me like a two-toned dark grey push pin, (on my dark background it is hard to spot), and announced it as a 'sticky' thread.
I thought this meant that such Threads so marked would never disappear from near the top of the list and Only the newly created Threads might appear above.
It didn't say it was a restricted thread. Some I note have a lock - that would indicate it is blocked for some reason?
Perhaps adding words like 'for BB Champions chat'?
Maybe a separate Topic section for the restricted Threads.
I wondered if those participating in those restricted Threads really want me to be in effect, 'lurking' on them. I think, if you are going to restrict posting to any particular Thread, then. don't let me read them either. I am not sure I want to even know they exist.
I don't like auto-generated emails, form-filling, those Capture things, (which I was glad you don't have), not even when there is an audio option.
If voice posts were available, I would actually suggest a choice of synthetic voices, to guard against people being identified just as surely as an actual photo of self being used for an avatar. High quality voices preferred. Keep both text and voice available for users to decide as they want. Some people comprehend better when reading, some when listening. Some are more comfortable with written language, some with speaking, or even making pictures to express themselves. One method might be just the beginning, and other means of expression might come later.
I don't want any media to be unavailable or inaccessible. For very basic things, I can still use my old Paint programme - unsure for how much longer.
The option to upload images which could be security scanned.
You would have to consider how much more work might need to be done ensuring people respected the site guidelines, conditions of use and the law. Lot of work just keeping an eye on what's coming in, now!
If I could find a software programme I could easily use to make music on, I would have that too!
*sigh* but one can dream ... can't upload those either... mmMekitty
Doh! I have run into another little problem. I thought I might check out the Donation procedure.
On my dark background with pale font, I could not see if a radio button was actuallyselected or not. I get confused with how my text-to-xpeech announces these.things. The Check boxes tick lights up well. That's okay for now, because I still have some sight, and can zoom in v big if needed.
It did say to fill in all required fields, which are commonly marked with a '*' . I did nt find any, so I thought I would select an option for my donation, and well, because I don't want to name my donation in celebration, support or memory of a specific individual, but would rather generally celebrate, support someone, everyone, or not name the one I want whose memory I want to honour, I could not proceed. It was 'requiring' first and last names to be provided, whether or not I wanted to 'send a letter ...'.
I am not happy with that. I like to see what the full procedure, you know, how payments are made, other information you ask, if you keep all these details I give even if I have selected to make a one-off donation. There was not even a little note about how the letter to family.friends would be sent, what it would say, (or maybe, if I had checked that box, I would have discovered I was to write it?)
I have been thinking, I want my donation to specifically support the upgrade, the Project Team's work...
Hello ProjectTeam, it's always good to get you to reply, my query is, and first of all, is I really appreciate everyone who participates on the forum, that's how this site has been able to keep going as well as why it continually is growing in size every month, it's a much needed place where people can express themselves without any fear of any criticism.
Hello mmMekitty, I've just looked at the donations page and your best way for these questions to be answered is by clicking 'Get in touch' and then press 'Let us know'.
I used to donate a while ago but only stopped because I needed to get a new laptop, and any donations would go into a fund that supports all the work involved in Beyond Blue, so it would probably be supporting the new Project, as money is distributed accordingly.
just a polite note on the character limit you mentioned earlier...Some people with a depressive or anxiety related health condition have difficulty reading posts anywhere near our current character ceiling
You are fortunate that you can read super long posts....Sometimes the quality of a post outweighs the quantity when the reader has a 'tired mind'
Hi Geoff.....Its only my humble opinion that an organization like Beyond Blue should be more transparent where allocation of donations are concerned
Hello Paul, you have made a good point and I agree with you, as it seems that the online forums are last on the list, I don't believe this should be so, this is the way many people communicate with others and should be regarded as high on the list.
There is not enough contact with volunteers on a personal level, nor funds to allow the online forums to be updated as we have been promised for years.
Thank you for
being a part of this vibrant and growing community, it is wonderful to see how
many people are committed to making this the best possible space to share experiences
of the journey towards positive mental health.
We appreciate
and value the feedback that you have given us on this thread can hear that you
are eager to see what the new forum space will look and feel like – so are we!
For queries about donations, we
recommend sending an email through to donations@beyondblue.org.au to make sure the best team can help.
We take accessibility for the
community incredibly seriously and want as many people as possible to
enjoy the peer connection offered by the forums.
Our number
one priority is making sure that our new forum platform is as useful and user
friendly as it can be. This process has taken some time and we thank you all
for your patience as we work through the various technical and design elements.
We look forward to sharing our progress with you in the New Year and having our
new way to connect with others who understand, up and running in 2022.
Thank you
again for sharing and sorry it has taken so long to respond here. We are going to
try our best to be jumping back into this thread more often as we start the New
Year – thank you for being understanding .
