“I'm Nick Dupree. My SL avatar is named Namav Abramovic. I'm a Medicaid reform activist, and, because of muscular dystrophy, I use a ventilator to breathe.

I can't use a keyboard, or lift my hands at all. I type with my thumb on a trackball mouse and click out text by hitting letters on onscreen keyboard software.

I read about people with disabilities using Second Life in the Washington Post, and logged in for the first time Oct. 20, 2007. I had run a support group online in the past, and am interested in using virtual community to support people with disabilities. I joined The Heron Sanctuary in November, and now have founded Open Gates, a THS project to provide 24/7 peer support in Second Life.”