FAQ
Why register? Only people who want to POST should register. If you are interested in reading posts, commenting, or just being along for the ride – we would LOVE to have you! Our mascot, Otto the Octopus, above, has all you need – click the RSS feed or the envelope (email) to subscribe and receive each post! Oh…and the newsletter – don’t want to miss that! Enter your email address below Otto ————————>
But I want to post! OK, then register! The only benefit of registering is the ability to post. And if you have a story to tell, we want to hear it!
Great! Who can post? Anyone raising a child with sensory issues can post.
What if my child hasn’t been formally diagnosed with SPD, can I post? Yes. If your child has sensory issues, with or without another diagnosis, feel free to contribute.
What is the going to be in the newsletter? Each month, you’ll receive an update from the editors of the SPD Blogger Network. We’ll share the Top 5 most viewed posts of the month, an interview with our “SPD Writer of the Month”, links to our sponsors and more! Just type your e-mail into the box. It’s that easy!
Great – where do I sign up for the newsletter? Right below the octopus – type in your email address, hit submit.
Do I have to have my own blog? No.
I don’t know how to use WordPress, can you help? Yep. Check out this tutorial. It is MUCH EASIER than you think.
I’ve registered, but I haven’t been emailed a password, can you help? Check your spam folder. Check it again. Go to the login/register page and click “forgot my password” and have it resent. If all else fails, email the Editor.
I’ve registered and logged in. Now what? Edit your profile. Change your password to one you’ll remember. Add your bio (please do this!). Then check to make sure you have a profile picture (instructions following). When you are ready, click “New Post” and let us hear what you have to say!
Edit my profile? Yes, decide what name you want to display (your user name vs. real name), add your bio (this is a great place to list your blog, website and/or twitter name), and then move on to adding a photo. PLEASE add a bio and a photo – it shows up under each blog post you write!
I’ve edited my profile, but I can’t figure out how to change my photo, help! Gravatars (your profile pic) are registered by your email at Gravatar.com. You will need to register at Gravatar.com and upload a photo there (it is really easy) in order to have your profile here display one. And be sure to use the email associated with your account on the blog!
What if I am a professional (therapist, teacher, psychologist, SLP, etc) and want to post an article, can I? No, sorry. This space is designated for families to talk about their own experiences. If you would like to be interviewed or offer a giveaway, you are welcome to email the Editor and put in a request. But,there is no guarantee. ** Note: Professionals are welcome – and encouraged – to submit articles for the newsletter. Check out the newsletter link above, and email the Newsletter Editor to pitch your idea.
What kind of things should I write about? Virtually anything related to raising a child with sensory issues. This is a broad category, but whatever experiences you are going through with a child with SPD, there is a good chance others are. If you have some advice to share, an experience that you want talk about, a space to vent frustrations or talk about your dreams for the future, this is it. We are looking for well thought out, well written posts that really express the author’s idea clearly.
Can I share someone else’s post under my name? No. All posts must be the original words of the author submitting the post. We reserve the right to remove any posts that we believe are the work of another author.
How long should my post be? Posts should be OVER 500 words and UNDER 1500 words. There are exceptions, but this is the general guideline. If your post is over or under this, please revise it before submitting.
Should I ‘categorize’ and ‘label’ my post? Yes. Please choose a maximum of 3 categories that best suit your post, and up to 6 labels. Over-categorizing and over-labeling isn’t necessary.
What kind of posts don’t you want? We are not looking for questions, medical advice, requests for referral, or generally things that would be better suited for a support group or forum. If you have that type of need, consider posting it at Sensory Planet. We are also not looking for personal train-of-thought type blog posts. Those are better for your personal blog.
Remember that this is a “family show”. Please keep it clean. The editors reserve the right to not publish a post deemed offensive.
Can I link to other posts I’ve written on my blog? The simple answer is no. You are encouraged to add your blog link to your bio, but any posts with links back to their private blog (as in, “You can read this and this and this and the first part here and the next part here” etc.) will be deleted.
Can’t I just put a link to my blog under my name? No. Please keep your bio info, in your bio.
I have found a great vitamin that helps my child, can I write about that? No. Basically anything that is considered medical advice cannot be offered here. There will be no exceptions.
What about other treatments? We are using the SPD Foundation’s guidelines for approved treatments for SPD that are scientifically proven. Every post will be fact checked.
I have a great SPD friendly business! Can I post about that? No. You cannot advertise your personal business in a post. If you would like to be considered for a review/giveaway by one of our writers, please email a request to the Editor. There is no guarantee.
Can someone at the SPDBN review my product? Yes. If you email the Editor and request a review/giveaway, and it is determined that it is appropriate for the SPDBN’s audience, then a writer will be selected and assigned to your product. The Editor will contact you.
Can I post other giveaways? You are welcome to re-post giveaway announcements from your blog, but they will be subject to the same rules as other posts in addition to final approval by the Editor to determine whether or not the product being reviewed/given away is appropriate for SPDBN.
Can I post things I’ve already published on my blog? Yes. But please know we will be prioritizing those post that are timely and current.
Can I cross post? Sure. You are welcome to post your writings wherever you’d like!
How do I post? Click the ‘Join Us” button on the right side bar and register. It really is easy. Once you are in there, start a new post, and when you are happy with it, click submit. We’ll take it from there.
Can I post photos? Yes. BUT, all photos must be YOUR property and are subject to approval by the Editor.
You are going to edit the post? Possibly. We want every post to reflect well on its author, and on the SPDBN. We also want it to be accurate, and not contain medical advice. So, we reserve the right to edit your post for length, grammar, spelling and content.
How will I know when my post is up? We suggest following the blog. You can do so by clicking the RSS feed that the octopus is holding. As the blog grows, we hope to schedule blog posts out 3-4 weeks ahead of time, at which time, if your post will be included, you will be emailed the schedule. The best way for this to happen quickly, is to get lots of blog posts in queue.
How often can I post? You can submit as many posts as you like. They will be approved, edited and scheduled as time allows.
I wrote a post, clicked submit to pending, but now it is drafts again. What happened? The Editor moved it because she found it didn’t meet the above guidelines. Most commonly, it was too short, or too long, strayed from the topic of Sensory too far, asked a question better suited for a forum, or had medical advice in it. Please revise it and resubmit!
I have a post up! Now what? Please share the post with others! If you have your own blog, posting a short piece letting your followers know you are posting on the SPDBN with a link, sharing the post via Twitter and Facebook or any other social media means is a great idea! Help us spread the word – You are being featured on the SPDBN!
Can I link to my own blog? Yes. When you create a member profile, you have the opportunity to write a short bio of yourself, including links to your blog, your Twitter handle or whatever you’d like. It will appear at the end of each post that is published. Hint: You can your blog button for your photo.
Can I put the SPDBN button/badge on my blog? Yes. Please do!
Can I share these posts on my blog? No and Yes. If it is your own post, you are welcome to post it on your own blog or elsewhere – it belongs to you. If it is NOT your post, it is not available for reprint through us without Editor approval AND writer approval. Email the Editor for more info.
Can I share the posts on Facebook and Twitter? Please! You are more than welcome to share the link to the posts here on any social media, actually, we encourage it!
Please Note: The editorial staff makes every effort to verify that all posts are submitted by the original author and that any concerns about plagiarized material should immediately be raised with the editor. We reserve the right to remove any posts that we believe have been copied from another source.
Still have questions? Email us.
