You probably have friends with disabilities. You
know that people with disabilities face many barriers in living in
the "real" world. There are also barriers to entering into a
virtual world. Some people have only one hand or even one finger
they can control to type. Some use a stylus, or type with their
toes. Some can't type at all, and use voice recognition software to
control their computer.
Virtual Ability, Inc. helps people with these kind of
challenges get into and become successful in virtual worlds like
Second Life®.
During our unique intake process, we conduct an individualized
skills assessment, refer clients for help with assistive hardware
and software as appropriate, and provide customized training and
orientation.
Once they are "there," Virtual Ability, Inc. helps members of our
community integrate into the virtual society, and provides an
ongoing community of support. The community offers members
information, encouragement, training, companionship, referrals to
other online resources and groups, ways to contribute back to the
community, and ways to have fun.
We take virtual field trips as part of our curriculum with our new
intakes. We also have volunteers who love to go shopping, and
enjoy helping folks with virtual makeovers. While almost anyone new
to a virtual online world would enjoy a little early guidance, we
are finding that this individualized attention is often critical
for the success of those who have disabilities.
We also do a lot of dancing. We have taken folks to walk in the
virtual woods, climb mountains, go virtual skydiving - all kinds of
things that are profound and a pleasure to someone with physical or
mental limitations. It's an amazing experience helping someone who
will never walk again in real life to jump on a virtual
trampoline.
Virtual Ability in 2011 operates six properties in Second Life on which we do most of our work. They include the public islands Virtual Ability and Healthinfo Island; the residential islands Cape Able and Cape Serenity; VAI Sanctuary which is the community home island; and a plot of land on Wolpertinger. Virtual Ability Island, HealthInfo Island, and the Wolpertinger property are all rated G, so that any SL resident can be on those islands. Teens with disabilities, who are restricted to G sims, can set their “home” in Wolpertinger and hang out in the Teen Retreat Treehouse. We also have a small presence in Inworldz, and plan to expande to other virtual worlds in the future.
Virtual Ability, Inc. purchased two-year extensions on the lease of all five of the SL Islands that we own. (Linden Lab stopped offering discount pricing to non-profit and educational organizations in December 2010, but allowed a two-year extension at existing rates.) All VAI islands are now fully paid for through 2012.
Members of the Virtual Ability community have participated in a variety of projects to improve different aspects of the Second Life experience. Several community members were involved in the beta testing of Viewer 2 before it was released for general use. Feedback was given on general and specific issues, regarding accessibility and general utility. The New Resident Orientation path on Virtual Ability Island was updated for instruction on using Viewer 2.
Virtual Ability is becoming known for its broad support of accessibility in virtual worlds. People come to us with concerns and questions about accessible facilities and design, as well as with individual concerns. We are frequently asked to review a virtual campus, a curriculum, or a lesson, to ensure that is it accessible either in general, or for an individual student.
As an example, Virtual Ability, Inc. held a contract in 2010 to evaluate a SL sim used by the Government of Canada for recruiting people for federal jobs. Because Canadian laws about accessibility are strong, it was already a well-constructed site. But we were able to offer a few significant suggestions that greatly increased the number of people with disabilities who could access the information on that island.
For more information about these projects and activities, please see our Projects Page
Virtual Ability, Inc. is chartered as a non-profit corporation in good standing in the state of Colorado, USA. Information about our corporate status is available at: http://www.sos.state.co.us/ccsa/ViewSummary.do?edID=49720
Virtual Ability, Inc. is a non-profit tax exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. This means that for US citizens, contributions made in US dollars are deductible as a charitable donation for federal income tax purposes.
The corporation is governed by a Board of Directors, which currently consists of:
Alice Krueger. Ms. Krueger is Chairman of the Board, and the founder of Virtual Ability. She worked part time from home as a technical writer and editor for an education research firm for five years using adaptive office equipment. As a woman with Multiple Sclerosis, she found it increasingly difficult to participate in her real life community. No longer able to leave home to work, volunteer, or socialize with friends, she turned to virtual worlds to fulfill these basic human needs. Ms. Krueger is the mother of three young adults with disabilities and has been a special education teacher. Ms. Krueger's avatar in Second Life® is Gentle Heron. Gentle can stand and walk without crutches.
David Ludwig. Mr. Ludwig is Vice President of Virtual Ability, Inc., responsible for strategy, planning, and operation, with a strong organizational and project management background. Mr. Ludwig has 30 years of experience in the Information Technology field, as a developer, analysis, project manager and program management officer at firms including Dell and Hewlett Packard.
Linda Binns. Ms. Binns works full time for a local government legal office in California, and is an advocate for people with hearing loss in both real life and Second Life®. She hears and functions with the technology of bilateral cochlear implants. Ms. Binns is the former president of the board of directors for the SayWhatClub, a worldwide internet support group for people with hearing loss. She is the real life typist behind Treasure Ballinger, and is the estate manager for the Cape Able residential sim geared to the needs of deaf and disabled in Second Life®.
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