Free Event Fri. Feb. 29th: Using Virtual Worlds and Emerging Technologies for People with Disabilities

Friday, Feb. 29th , 2008: Join us for a 1-day free online event happening on TechSoup.org's Community forums and in Second Life:

Using Virtual Worlds and Emerging Technologies for People with Disabilities

This two-part, interactive event will take place in two locations online:

First, the live discussion in the virtual world of Second Life at 9am PST: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Plush%20Nonprofit%20Commons/133/232/76

The follow-up discussion will take place for the rest of the day, 10AM PST- 6PM PST, in TechSoup’s Accessible Technology & Public Computing forum at: http://www.techsoup.org/go/accessibletechnology .

Event Schedule:

9 AM PST in the Nonprofit Commons Amphitheater in Second Life. Simon Stevens (aka Simon Walsh in Second Life) http://www.simonstevens.com will be speaking about his work in Second Life. Simon Walsh is chief executive of Enable Enterprises which manages the Wheelies nightclub for people with disabilities in Second Life and the Second Ability Second Life simulator. In real life, Simon has cerebral palsy and lives in Coventry, UK. He is a disability consultant and trainer working with many organizations large and small.

Simon will give a virtual talk via text chat in the Nonprofit Commons amphitheater, in the virtual world of Second Life.

10AM PST- 6PM PST --the follow-on discussion will continue in an all-day, asynchronous (not-live) forum on TechSoup. This event will occur in a question and answer format in the TechSoup Accessible Technology & Public Computing forum, http://www.techsoup.org/go/accessibletechnology, where we’ll discuss issues such as:

-Innovative ways that emerging technologies are making technology more accessible for people with disabilities

-Ways people with disabilities use technologies to expand their communities?

-How can we work to make accessibility a design priority in the virtual world as well as the real world?

-What are some free resources to help people with disabilities find accessible technology tools?

-How can nonprofit organizations help make technology more accessible for people with disabilities?

Join us Feb. 29th in the Nonprofit Commons in Second Life: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Plush%20Nonprofit%20Commons/133/232/76 at 9am PST, and then in the TechSoup Accessible Technology & Public Computing forum: http://www.techsoup.org/go/accessibletechnology for a free all-day, asynchronous (not live) online event as we explore these topics and more.

If you have any questions, please email: Community@techsoup.org .

No registration is needed; just show up and post your questions!