Linden Prize

VHH Donations

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Abstract Summary

A 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, Virtual Helping Hands coordinates volunteers from around the world to help individuals with disabilities enjoy the benefits of virtual worlds through innovative accessibility programs.

Virtual Helping Hands' in-world and real-world accessibility programs and events include:

Virtual Helping Hands Guidedog

Project Description

Second Life residents learn many things about its technology and environment, but they also learn more about themselves and others in this global community. Virtual Helping Hands and its programs all started with such learning experiences that developed into ideas which became realities. The team that made Virtual Helping Hands a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation demonstrates that virtual actions can make real differences in the world. By reaching through the virtual world and beyond the screen, they are able to collaborate to bring their depth of caring to people world-wide. They remain dedicated to helping others achieve real-life benefit from virtual experiences with their current projects and with projects they dream may come.

Virtual Helping Hands works within Second Life to bring the benefits of virtual worlds to the disabled through innovative accessibility programs.  While our latest notable accomplishment was the November 21st award of our non-profit 501(c)(3) status, we continue our work with a unique mixture of in-world and real-world access programs and events.

For over a year SecondAbility Mentors has assisted persons with disabilities by responding to calls for assistance. Club Accessible provides opportunities for social interaction and entertainment in a fun, inclusive environment. And Accessible Builds provides a model community environment which fosters interaction and education.

Helen Keller Day became the change catalyst of hearts and minds of what constitutes accessibility for those who are disabled. The issues discussed, awareness raised, and lessons learned have prompted changes and solutions benefiting the disabled. The publicity of this event created opportunities for dialog with real-life organizations assisting individuals who are disabled worldwide.

Our vision to help people explore how virtual worlds can enhance the lives of those who are blind, vision-impaired, or otherwise disabled sparked one of our biggest dreams: a sound island where blind and visually-impaired people can train and explore. Imagine the benefit of using such a facility for training with a virtual guide dog in preparation for receiving a real dog. The 3D environment, with spatial sound, offers more for individuals who are blind or visually-impaired compared to the graphical media currently available on the Internet. The sound island represents only one of many such possibilities.

Receipt of the Linden Prize would recognize Virtual Helping Hands' many accomplishments to-date.  However, we would be further honored to apply the prize monies to achieve additional leverage in helping others find their place and value in this virtual community, especially those who are disabled and who find so many experiences denied to them in their real lives.  Our plans for using the prize monies include:

We are passionate about accessibility because we believe that the distance between real and virtual should not be limited by traditional, unimaginative interfaces.  This is why we work and serve the people who drive our passion and imagination.  It is also why we are a unique candidate for the 2010 Linden Prize.

Additional Resources

VHH work is not really confined to a single place, either real or virtual.  The Second Life manifestations of VHH's work are found at the following SLURL http://slurl.com/secondlife/Taupo/167/94/24

Projects:

Our website in its entirety serves to document our work and is recapped, in part, below for your convenience.

Videos:

Documentation:

Many more links of resources can be found across out websites relevant to each of our projects.