April 17, 2008 by Nobody Fugazi
Posted in
I do encourage people to assist with this project. From Gentle Heron, whose real name and email address I left out because I didn't get a chance to ask permission to use that information on the site.
Hello friend. We got it! We got it! Our new Virtual Ability island has surfaced to the east of HealthInfo Island.
Right now it is bare rock, but it holds so much promise for our group and future SL citizens with disabilities or chronic health conditions. Soon it will be the site of our new accessibility-friendly Virtual Ability orientation and training facilities. Can you picture a place that is specifically built to support newcomers with disabilities? That is what we will soon have on Virtual Ability Island.
Our comprehensive new Orientation Center will provide a wide range of training and information. A dedicated portal from our website will lead directly to the Orientation Center.
All information provided will eventually be available in multiple formats for users with different capabilities. Further, various assistive technology devices can be supported by personal mentoring.
We obtained the nonprofit rate for the island and its monthly tier fees. But an island is just a piece of land. Constructing the kinds of specialized facilities we'll need will require highly skilled designers and builders who charge premium rates. Even without staff expenses this first year, we project a total fundraising need of US$35,000 for construction and other corporate costs. We have received a leadership grant of US$8,450 through our partnership with the Alliance Library System, but we need people like you to help us make this dream a reality.
It's only through your caring support that VAI will be able to expand.
Please consider taking a few minutes to make a donation of US$25* or more to help make SL accessible to hundreds, and eventually thousands, of people with disabilities and chronic health conditions. Everyone who donates US$100 or more will, if they wish, have their name listed in a donor recognition space on the new island.
Any donation you can make is helpful and will be appreciated. You can donate US$ or other RL currency with your credit card or PayPal account on our website at www.VirtualAbility.org. You can also pay L$ to the donation kiosk on EduIsland 4 at Eduisland (204,159,25). If you wish to make a larger or non-cash donation, please contact me privately.
Help open incredible new horizons to many people, to interact, to create, and to be part of our vibrant, supportive community. Please take a few minutes to make a life-transforming difference!
Sincerely,
SL: Gentle Heron
* Virtual Ability, Inc. is chartered as a Colorado non-profit corporation. It is seeking but has not yet obtained federal 501(c)3 status. Until it has been notified of this status, your US contributions are not tax-deductible.
I'll personally be donating. I'd rather give $25 to this cause than spend it on that shiny new prim... :-)
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Leery, but pleased...
According to this from their website...
The Congressional Committee findings for the ADA found that the disabled as a group are the poorest and least educated of all minority groups. Over 20 percent of the disabled of working age live in poverty, which is over twice the national rate. About 40% of people with disabilities, two in five, did not finish high school.
People with disabilities often encounter job discrimination. Two-thirds of people with disabilities who are of working age are not working, according to a Lou Harris poll. This high unemployment rate is not because the disabled don't want to work; two-thirds of those not presently working do want to work.
... Not exactly the prime demographic to reach disabled people in SL as they apparently can't afford high end computers, but I know personally that there are a good number of disabled people (or claiming so) in SL.
The only thing I'm leery of is the same with all non profits in SL, is there accurate reporting of how much was collected and how much was used as "overhead". Is there RL tranparency?
This company being a "real" company is a forward step, but in skimming the site I "still" seen little to no rl information, which is a bit odd for a RL non profit (or not yet non profit but they've applied). We've learned about lack of transparency the hard way.
All told if people with proven RL disabilities (not the majority that will tell you of their virtual woes for attention) are being helped and the money is going to the cause, it's a good thing. I do expect to see a bit more on the side of RL though before I part with my money.
That's fair.
I've been talking with Gentle Heron for months, so I have my own feel on things. If you don't want to donate, that's fine - and your constructive criticism is definitely there. I'll pass it along to Gentle.
Second Life Consultant
Thanks for the tip
Thanks for the tip, Fugazzi, I had a very nice conversation with Gentle this evening. I agree with you this is the one thing we should be supporting with all of our effort in SL. It sure beats the financial markets with all of their drama.
Arnaud Villota