Virtual Ability helps bring people with a wide range of disabilities into virtual worlds, and provides them with a supporting environment once here. During our specialized intake process, we provide new SL residents customized orientation and training at Virtual Ability Island. There, new residents can learn SL fundamentals in an accessibility-friendly environment, and existing residents can receive ongoing training and information about health-related issues and support groups.

Virtual Ability Welcome: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Ability/128/127/22/

Virtual Ability Orientation: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Ability/168/98/22/

Through the new SL account signup process on our web site (www.virtualability.org), or through the secondlife.com "Community Gateway" program, new residents will have their avatar arrive at the beginning of the New Resident Orientation Course on Virtual Ability Island when they log in to SL for the first time. If they need assistance during their first hour in SL, they can call on a member of the SecondAbility Mentor group to come chat with them.

Once in Second Life, Virtual Ability helps our members integrate into SL society and provides an ongoing community of support. The community offers members information, encouragement, training, companionship, referrals to other SL resources and groups, ways to contribute back to the community, and ways to have fun.

Cape Able is our residential sim that supports the deaf, hard of hearing, and other communities. In addition to private residences, the island contains an art gallery that features works created by deaf/disabled artists, and a social services area that provides resources for people with all kinds of disabilities

Cape Able: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cape%20Able/135/176/22

In RL, Virtual Ability, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation based in Colorado, USA. As we grow, we are expanding our services and programs to become a primary resource for SL users with disabilities. We conduct outreach and awareness activities to inform people with disabilities, their doctors, and their caregivers of the benefits virtual worlds can provide.

Whether you have a disability or not, if you have questions or want to get involved we'd love to visit with you, answer your questions, and invite you to become part of our community.

If you would like to know more about us, please see our website at www.VirtualAbility.org or IM Gentle Heron, Eme Capalini, Saxet Uralia, Ronin1 Shippe, Treasure Ballinger, or Pecos Kidd.

January 24, 2009