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Access to the Internet Community: Guide to Internet Discussion and Message Boards or Forums
April 30, 2006, updated July 2025
The purpose of this guide is to provide information for people with disabilities who are 18 to 59 years of age, and does not necessarily offer information specifically for the elderly.
New Horizons Un-limited assumes no responsibility in guaranteeing the services, programs or conditions as described. If you are interested in a resource listed below, call or contact the resource to verify the current situation. Evaluate information and make your own decisions when using this review.
Guide on Internet Discussion and Message Boards and Forums
This guide, written by New Horizons Un-Limited volunteers and staff, provides information on the benefits of using Internet Discussion and Message Boards and Forums and other similar opportunities to Access the Community on the Internet.
Thousands of discussion groups on a variety of topics are going on all the time on the Internet. You can reply to a message or post a message and receive replies. Some are moderated and some are not. Moderated discussions have a person who reads the message before it is posted, keeping the group on topic. If the discussion board is not moderated, the topic can get sidetracked.
Disguise your email address when posting to a discussion board as companies can find email addresses and send unsolicited mail.
Many discussion boards have FAQ, Frequently Asked Questions, that have been posted many times to a discussion board. Check the FAQ before posting a question or you may get a comment from the discussion board.
We hope this brief tutorial will assist you with our New Horizons Un-Limited Community Forum. If you need additional instruction on where you may find particular information, please contact us via e-mail at horizons@new-horizons.org
Using our New Horizons Un-Limited Community Forum and Topic Discussion Boards:
To Access our Community Forum
, simply scroll down to the bottom of whichever page you may be viewing. Each page contains a menu bar containing several link choices. The menu bar will resemble the following:
Main Categories / NHU E-Mail Form / NHU Community Forum
Simply click on the NHU Community Forum” link to access the NHU Community Forum. Clicking on this link will bring you to the Welcome Page, which discusses our rules of use. Once you have read the rules of use, you may visit our forum by again clicking on the Go to the NHU Community Forum” link located towards the bottom center of the Welcome Page.
Once in the NHU Community Forum
, you will see the many Categories and Subjects. Here is a list of the main categories on the NHU Community Forum. Each forum has many topic discussion boards and subject messages currently posted. You may view any post, however, if while using the forum, you decide you would like to respond to messages posted by other visitors or post a message of your own, you must register and login.
- General
- -- Introduce yourself, Share what's on YOUR mind!
- Friendship
- -- Find new friends, have fun communicating with others!
- Share Your Experiences/Inspiration
- -- Poems, quotes, stories, art, songs, successes, failures, mistakes, learning, purpose, peace and awareness!
- Family Support Group/Life Planning/
- -- People helping people! How did you do it? Take a little, give a little. Although we all want to find our own way, you may be able to help others from what you have learned! No one needs to feel they are alone!
- Share Your Knowledge, Information and Resources
- -- Post a topic question, start a discussion, pass along great links, a good book, or share a resource or a great adaptive device.
- Tell Us What You Think!
- -- What's in the news? Voice your opinion! Participate in on-line polls or write to our editor!
- News and Events
- -- Has something significant happened to you or are you affiliated with an organization that is hosting a disability event and want to get the word out? Post your disability news or events!
- Caregiver
- -- Share caregiver outlooks, ideas and support!
- Classifieds
- -- Post disability items to sell or look for used items to buy!
Register and Login
Although you will be able to access the boards and view messages, you will miss out on all the privileges of posting messages, instant messages and more, unless you become a member of the NHU Community Forum by registering. Joining is free, easy, and only takes a few minutes. We encourage you to join others in the fun! To become a member, enter the NHU Community Forum and click on Register. Once you have become a member, then click on Login and enter your nickname and password to enter the NHU Forum.
Post a Reply
To respond to a message posted by other visitors, simply scroll through the listing of messages and click on those messages that interest you. Once in the actual message you can “Post” and submit a Follow Up message by typing your message into the text boxes provided and by clicking “Submit.”
Post a New Message
To post a new message, make sure you are on the message page. Click on “Post Message” centered towards the top of the page. This will bring up a text box in which you may type your message. When finished typing, click on the “Post Message” button.
Privacy and Security Issues
The Internet can certainly be intimidating to new users. However, you will find that with the proper knowledge, the Internet can offer you many opportunities and much information. Most people that go online have a positive experience, but like anything else we pursue in public in our world, there are risks. It is important that you properly evaluate your sources of information for reliability.
Following are a few things to keep in mind for Privacy and Security while on the Internet:
- 1. DO NOT give any personal information (i.e. last name, address, phone number, social security number, etc.) to strangers you meet in discussion boards, newsgroups, chat rooms, etc.
2. DO NOT send pictures of yourself to people you meet on discussion boards, newsgroups, chat rooms, etc.
3. DO NOT trust all people that are online. A person can misrepresent who they are. Be just as careful "meeting" people online as you would be with any stranger you meet on the street.
4. DO NOT trust that all information provided on Internet websites is accurate. Some websites might be propaganda or may be created with the sole purpose to deceive. Verify that the source of information is reputable, or perhaps verify with an expert. Be careful about any offers that involve you coming to a meeting, having someone visit your house, or sending money or credit card information.
5. NEVER respond to messages or bulletin board items that make you feel uncomfortable in any way. Report anything you feel is unlawful to authorities.
6. CHECK OUT blocking, filtering, and ratings to further filter unwanted sites with your ISP service. Many Internet Service Providers like Earthlink offer SPAM Blocking software, Pop-Up Blocking software and software to make your Internet surfing experience more safe and enjoyable. The software is provided free as part of the monthly service fees that you would pay to these providers.
Creating a Password
- 1. To protect your computer, accounts, programs and files use passwords.
2. Change passwords periodically or if you notice any change in your account.
3. Memorize your passwords.
4. Don't use well-known abbreviations, numbers or names that are easily traced to you, actual words, your user name or the same password for different accounts.
5. Passwords should be comprised of letters and numbers or special characters (shifted number keys), some case sensitive and at least eight to ten characters long for greater security. Never use your name, family members names, birthdates, phone numbers, or other common information as part of a password. Never use your user ID as a password. It is best to create passwords using combinations of letters, numbers and special characters that do not form words, but mean something to you that you can easily remember.
Summary:
Create a password based on a phrase using intermittent letters and numbers. Memorize it.
The following NHU resource page on On-Line Disability Communities will take you to other on-line meeting places and forums in which people with disabilities may participate. Please be aware of the safety issues concerning the use of such online communities. It is not wise to share personal information (i.e. last name, address, phone number, social security number, etc.) to strangers you meet in discussion boards, newsgroups, chat rooms, etc. Please use your best judgment while visiting these on-line communities. NHU is not affiliated with any of the following disability communities and is not liable for any actions resulting from the visit to the linked resources.
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