Virtual Ability

== New Resident Orientation ==
Virtual Ability offers a unique orientation center for residents new to Second Life. Months of research has allowed the development of a training course made especially for people with disabilities, yet beneficial for any new resident. Set in an open and inviting island theme, wide smooth paths lead you to large easy to read signs that teach the basics of everyday living in Second Life. You’ll learn about moving, talking, finding your way around, acquiring new things, finding and organizing your things, and changing how you look. Helpers from the SecondAbility Mentor group are available and glad to answer any of your questions.
Virtual Ability is part of the Community Gateway program, which provides a wide range of focused environments aimed at helping new residents enter and enjoy Second Life.
== Group Charter ==
Virtual Ability helps bring people with a wide range of disabilities into Second Life, and provides them with a supporting environment once here.
We help our new members integrate into SL society and provide information, encouragement, training, companionship, referrals to other SL resources and groups, ways to contribute back to the community, and ways to have fun.
Whether you have a disability or not, if you have questions or want to get involved, please contact or join us!
== Mission Focus & Statement ==
*Main Focus: Special Interest: Supporting People With RL Disabilities
*Other: New Resident Basics/General Help
Virtual Ability, Inc. helps bring people with a wide range of disabilities into virtual worlds like Second Life, and provides them with a supporting environment once here.
During our specialized intake process, we provide new SL members with disabilities customized orientation and training at Virtual Ability Island. There, new residents can learn SL fundamentals in an accessibility-friendly environment, and existing residents can come for ongoing training and information about health-related issues and support groups.
Once "here," 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.
As we grow, we plan to expand our services and programs to become a primary resource for SL users with disabilities, and conduct outreach and awareness activities to inform people with disabilities, their doctors, and their caregivers of the benefits virtual worlds can provide.
In RL, Virtual Ability, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation based in Colorado, USA.
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.
== Best Practices: ==
*Locations: Virtual Ability region provides a customized new resident orientation center targeted at people with RL disabilities
*Resources: VirtualAbility.org
== Group Representatives: ==
* Gentle Heron
* Pecos Kidd
* Eme Capalini
== Group Documentarians: ==
* Pecos Kidd
== Founder: ==
Gentle Heron
== Total Group Members: == 
400
== Requirements to Join ==
Enrollment is by invitation by an officer, based on the applicant's expressed interest in being a part of the community. 
== Links ==
VirtualAbility.org 
 Virtual Ability New Resident Orientation 
 Virtual Ability Welcome Center
== History ==
* Originally in Second Life as The Heron Sanctuary - June 2007.
* Expanded and named Virtual Ability - February 2008.
* RL corporation, Virtual Ability, Inc. receives U.S. federal 501(c)(3) non-profit status - April 2008.
* Virtual Ability Island opens - August 2008.
Category:Community_Gateway