Second Life Disability Resources 

We are forging relationships with other Second Life institutions and groups, including:

 HealthInfo Island

This is an island in the Alliance Library System's Information Archipelago. HealthInfo Island was created in November 2006 under a grant from the National Library of Medicine. Agencies with a presence on HealthInfo Island include a medical library and a consumer health library, ToxTown from the National Institutes of Health, and the Karolinska Institut.

The Health Support Coalition 

This SL organization brings together the heads of the support organizations that are represented on the Pathway to Success. The purposes of this coalition include being aware of other programs' capabilities to enable cross referring members, maintaining a common calendar, and encouraging and supporting new group leaders so that their groups can grow. Virtual Ability, Inc. was a founding member of this Coalition.

The Accessibility Center

The Center is a multi-story public museum on HealthInfo Island. One purpose of the Accessibility Center is to create an awareness for Second Life educators, librarians, and other residents of various disabilities and of the challenges of a virtual environment. Four floor of the Center focus on different aspects of accessibility: vision, hearing, mobility and dexterity, or learning impairment. One floor offers information about some of the support groups for disabled people in Second Life. Displays are informative and interactive. Resources provided include links to websites and lists of printed resource materials.

Libraries

We find that many of our colleagues in Second Life who are not directly related to disability issues are librarians. Probably this is because they are interested in accessibility, the ability of people to access information. To librarians, access to information can vary for any individual, depending on the type of information needed, the format in which the information exists, and the physical and mental capabilities of the person seeking the information.  Libraries that have useful information for Virtual Ability, Inc. members include the Consumer Health Library and the NLM Library on HealthInfo Island, and the Galileo Law Library on EduIsland 4.

The Path of Support

The Path is a collection of large posters arranged along the sides of a stepping stone path on HealthInfo Island. Each poster gives information about a different SL health or disability support organization. It was created by the avatar Drangea Lyndhurst. The collection as displayed makes a strong statement about the variety and types of assistance available to disabled individuals within Second Life. 

AA in SL, Hosp. and Inst. group (professional community)

ADHD Research

Agoraphobia Support Headquarters

AICR (Association for International Cancer Research)

AIDS and HIV Help

AIDS and HIV Support

Alcoholics

Alcoholics Anonymous

All About Cancer

ALS Accessibility Center Providing education and resources to all on issues related to disabilities and how SL can enrich a person's life.

American Sign Language users Anxiety http://www.anxietyaustralia.com.au

The Artritis Society (Founded in Spain) affiliated with the Arthritis Foundation http://www.arthritis.org/

Asperger Awareness

Aspies for Freedom http://aspiesforfreedom.org/

Autism Awareness/support for parents and caregivers

Autism Research

BAVIEC (Blind and Visually Impaired Educational Center)

BEF (Cystic Fibrosis)

Bipolar Support

Breast Cancer Awareness

British Sign Language Users - BSL

Cancer Co-Op

CF University (Cystic Fibrosis)

The Circle of Support (anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses)

Crohn's and Colitis Support

Dementia Interests (mainly for carers)

Depression 24/7 Helpline

depression and other disorders

depression italy

Depression Support Group

Diabetes Type 1 Community

Disability Guerillas (activists)

Disability Support Workers International

Endometriosis support

Fibromyalgia Support Friends

Friends Fighting Cancer

Friends of Bill W. (Alcoholics Anonymous)

Friends of Lois W. (Alcoholics Anonymous)

Health Info Island + iVinnie Center + SL Health and Wellness Center + Japanese Herb Garden + Consumer Health Library + SL Medical Library + SL Health Information Outreach Research Lab

La Ligue contre le cancer

Live2Give support group for cerebral palsy http://braintalk.blogs.com/live2give

Manic-Depression

MDSLA support group for muscular dystropy, ALS, and other myopathies

Mind Blinder's club for those with autism spectrum disorders

Mobility Impaired in Second Life

MS Society

MS Support Group

Multiple Sclerosis Help and Support

Multiplicity multiple personality disorder support group

National Institutes of Health

N.D. Research and Support Committee support group for neurological disorders

Nexus Foundation http://www.slcounseling.org/ The Counseling Center annex, Boncarus (73, 41, 82) Making an appt is easy. Check the calendar at http://www.slcounseling.org/avalonbirke.htm. Look for "AVAILABLE" times. Then send an IM to Avalon Birke with the day/time you'd like.

Obsessive Ambulatory Disorder

Positive Mental Health

Prostate Cancer Research Foundation http://www.malecare.com/

Prostate Cancer Support

Psychosis and Depression Support

Self Injury Support

Shock Proof (Stroke Survivors)

SL Cancer Research UK

SL Deaf Underground the culture of ASL

SL Foundation for Diabetic Children

SL Relay for Life- Furs for A Cure

SL Support for HIV/AIDS

SL's Cancer Caregivers

SLCSS

Social Anxiety Support Group http://www.socialphobia.org/ http://www.sasfriends.com/ http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_anxiety http://www.socialanxietyassist.com.au

Successful Sobriety

Support for Healing http://www.supportforhealing.com/

Survivors of TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)

United Spinal Motorsports

Virtual Hallucinations (schizophrenia)

Wheelies @ Second Ability (193, 115, 27) disability-themed nightclub

Youth Cancer (UK)