Virtual Helping Hands and a coalition of community volunteers are proud to announce Helen Keller Day in Second Life. Named for a true innovator in accessibility, Helen Keller Day is a community-event that explores how and why to employ, educate, entertain, and engage everyone through virtual worlds.
Helen Keller Day is a day set aside for information acquisition, education, exploration of employment opportunities, social engagement, and enjoyment of arts and entertainment. There will be vendors, employers, presentations, and pure, unbridled fun.
Helen Keller Day is dedicated to raising our level of awareness for our fellow Second Life Residents who cope with disabilities. No one is immune from the feeling that they are excluded or unable to participate fully. Knowing how to include someone with a disability, and make them feel welcome, is an important social skill, and a small but significant kindness that we can all benefit from and feel good about. But Helen Keller Day goes far beyond this. Learning how to accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities avails business owners and managers of the services of a large pool of highly qualified, dedicated, and reliable workers that are an asset in many business settings.
The 13-hour event PDT will be held on Saturday, June 19 at four sims: The Ye, Olde, Supporte, and Faire . Presentations throughout the day include topics such as enabling deaf or blind users in Second life, a style-enabled fashion show, and accessibility issues and solutions in Second Life. The day will conclude with a “dance till we drop wrap-up party” at Club Accessible.
- Speaking at 6pm PDT – I will be presenting: Virtually Positive Abilities.
- Come into Second Life for my presentation.
- There will also be a short question and answer at the end of my speech.
You will hear keynote speaker Michael Hingson, survivor of the World Trade Center attacks and National Sales Director for the National Federation of the Blind for the KNFB Reader and many others. You will hear from experts in the fields of virtual education, employment, social engagement and entertainment. You can be immersed into darkness as you and Max, the Virtual Guidedog developed in Second Life for blind or visually impaired Second Life users, explore a virtual goldmine. Also featured will be an exhibition of Max’s abilities, a fashion show, a Braille chat display, dancing, singing quests and storytelling and more!
The event includes experiences designed to spark the imagination and participants to “see” and “hear” the world with all the senses in new and thought provoking ways. Join the pioneers in virtual worlds who are inspired by the spirit of Helen Keller to explore ways in which everyone can participate…and create a world that is richer for all.
Please join us in this positive and uplifting experience as we learn, connect, explore, and enjoy all that Helen Keller Day has to offer.
