Interview: Joel Manzer

The lead editor of Autisable.com discusses this valuable online autism resource and how his involvement has impacted him personally.


We invited Joel to share a little information about Autisable.com and his personal goals for the site. Autisable publishes "real blogs from people tackling the puzzle of autism."

"I'm currently on an eternal search to find those simple nuggets of truth that are amidst the complexities of life." – Joel Manzer
 

"I'm a proud husband of 15 years and father of a seven-year-old boy with autism," says Joel, who credits Marc Ginsburg, president of Xanga, and the Xanga team for helping him get Autisable off the ground. Xanga, with 40 million users worldwide, serves as a host to weblogs, photoblogs and social networking profiles. The Xanga team had been seeking someone from the autism community to be a vital part of its online activities, and after reading several of Joel's posts about his son on the Xanga Network, the team asked him to take the lead on the site. Since May of 2009, Autisable has been promoting autism awareness and has served as a valuable online resource for over 20,000 people to date.

Awe in Autism Interview with Joel Manzer

AWE: What was your motivation for establishing Autisable?
J.M.: On a personal note, my motivation comes from families that need to have their voices heard. For me, sharing what life is like with autism allows those outside the community to grasp the depth and reality of what daily life is like.

AWE: How well do you think you've been able to achieve your goals ?
J.M.: We're still a young site, and we have a long way to go. Most of the feedback we've had confirms that we are heading in the right direction. We appreciate constructive criticism from those in the community - as we want to promote community on our site.

AWE: What are some of the positive results you've observed?
J.M.: The biggest benefit that I've seen is shown in the responses people have to posts we highlight. From around the world, I've received e-mails and messages saying that they are glad Autisable is around, and they don't feel so alone in their journey with autism.  I've also been blessed by talking with so many people within the autism community. Families with children that are on the spectrum, professionals, and people with autism/Aspergers have all contributed to the site in some way. All the stories shared on the site have touched me deeply, and keep me motivated to press on.

AWE: How has your involvement in Autisable impacted you personally?
J.M.: I've learned so much from those who contribute and are a part of the site. It's been very cathartic for me to work on it. I've been asked to speak on several occasions about autism and my son. I've been very blessed in this process.

Anyone can submit a post for publication on Autisable using the "submit a post" button on the main page and following the easy step-by-step instructions. Also, those who would like to have their own blog on Autisable, and be a part of the Autisable community, can do so free of charge.

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