Friday, March 23, 2007

Keywords and Sitemeter

So I admit I am completely addicted to Sitemeter. I am fascinated with how new visitors reach my site. They also help me make my site better. BUT, these keywords keep me up at night. Here are a few from this week's searches:

"autism recovery"
"how do I teach math to a 1st grader with autism"
"autism spins wheels on cars for hours"
"baby sick symptoms "hands in mouth"
"opening and shutting cabinet doors all day toddler"

Autism recovery the most common keyword I see. The irony: My objective with posting my main website was to disseminate social skills technology that most professionals and parents don't seem to have access to. Not discuss recovery!

But it seems this is what a newly diagnosed parent wants to know.
Question 1: What the heck is Autism?
Question 2: Can we get rid of it?

It's the other keywords that cause a visceral reaction. Not because these keywords can mean Autism. But because schools and pediatricians fail this generation of parents and these innocent children. How? Because for many parents, my website is the first site they see about Autism. After all, I'm just a "lowly parent". There is no hand-book. There is no one-size-fits-all. There's just our story and info about viable treatment options. And of course, my ramblings on this blog.

What keeps me up at night? Thinking about that "cabinet" parent. What will they do next? Will their child be diagnosed soon? Will their child get the services they deserve to maximize their potential? Are they awake too? Worrying about their child? Wondering what is wrong? Wondering how they can get to the bottom of this?

And how about the 1st grade teacher? Who is helping THIS person? What an amazing person, researching away on their puny salary. A person that cares about our children. And one site they've clicked on is mine? Like my site can help? I don't think so!

5 comments:

Mom without a manual said...

Like my site can help? I don't think so!

Give yourself some credit. It is sites like yours that give other parents hope. We turn to our schools and our doctors and we get no hope and little ideas on how to reach our kids.

Even the books we all flock to are written by other parents!

It is a sad reality but we can't rely on those "educated professionals" to help. We have to help each other...and you are doing your part!

AshleyLeo said...

Thanks for the cudos. I really sounded whiny, I didn't intend to.

AshleyLeo said...

Thanks for the cudos. I really sounded whiny, I didn't intend to.

AshleyLeo said...

Thanks for the cudos. I really sounded whiny, I didn't intend to.

AshleyLeo said...

Thanks for the cudos. I really sounded whiny, I didn't intend to.