13 November 2006

MindFreedom International’s new web site

MindFreedom.org has been a popular destination for years for those who are interested in promoting human rights and alternatives in the mental health system.

Now it’s gotten even better.

MindFreedom has worked with the nonprofit technical assistance organization NetCorps to launch a “content management system” web site using Plone, an open-source system.

And what does that mean in plain English?

For one thing, MindFreedom’s staff and volunteers can now add news, resources and other content fairily easily using just a web-based form, with no knowledge of computer code such as HTML required.

Also, members can have added features such as a member-only area for special announcements and organizing, a way to sign-up for the MFI Shield Program online, and a re-introduction of the MindFreedom Personal Story campaign.

The new web site allows MFI staff and members to even cover news events practically “live” and easily add text, photos and other content instantly from any place that has web access.

A volunteer on the MFI web site described it as a “barn raising” because of the way several people could work on the site at the same time. If you would like to volunteer to assist on the MFI web site, see the “member only” folder for an introduction to Plone, and how you can sign up to volunteer.

Thanks much to web developer Aaron VanDerlip of NetCorps as well as MFI volunteers, and all the members who have waited so patiently for this development.

The plan is to e-mail current MindFreedom members their user name and password in the last week of November. If members have not received that password info by 1 December they ought to contact the MFI office.