History
Accessible Builds was founded in May 2008 by Chade Villota and Polgara Paine when they purchased Taupo Region to house the club now known as Club Accessible. The plan was to develop the region as an inclusive community where people with or without disabilities could live in a safe, welcoming environment. The first build was the club in-the-round that represented the wheel of a wheelchair and sat on the water with a bridge to the shore. Small apartment complexes were next; each unit had five apartments around a center common room. In addition, a group known as Style Enabled made their home in the region. Style Enabled is a group of models, most of whom have real life disabilities, and some of whom have chosen to represent those disabilities in SL.
Current Projects
Chade has been working closely with the residents of SL who live in the region to redesign the housing to have more of a seaside feel. Now each resident has a separate bungalow—although some share their homes with one or more friends. Most of the residents have lived in or been visitors to the region since Accessible Builds first opened housing. The atmosphere is indeed welcoming to all who respect diversity.
The residents in Taupo wanted a cozy coffeehouse in which to gather that would provide the same feeling offered by the now closed Café Latte. Trying to keep that seaside feel, Chade has designed a delightful building sitting on the water with just the right weathered feel. Polgara is now working to furnish the coffeehouse with cozy furniture in a nautical theme that includes a sit pose using just a click to make it easy for are residents who are blind to find seating and sit easily. The new coffeehouse, The Captain’s Cup, is located just to the west of Taupo in Mangakino Region.
The building that houses Club Accessible is currently being redesigned to fit into the new feel of the region. The club will abut The Captain’s Cup. Because both are in mainland regions, the number of avatars who can be in each region is limited to 45. By putting the two buildings side-by-side, the number of avatars who can enjoy an event can be increased with the radio in The Captain’s Cup set to the same station as that in Club Accessible.
The region has also become home to Eclectic Visions, a modeling group that welcomes models of all types. Models from Style Enabled are being encouraged to join Eclectic Visions and Style Enabled will be closed. Eclectic Visions provides training and events to develop the abilities of models to work at agencies throughout SL.
Finally, the region has a wheelchair vendor, SK Mobility, and one of the residents has become a designer of women’s clothing. Eclectic Visions has a few vendors with room for more.
Future Plans
Accessible Builds has filled Taupo Region with housing, entertainment, and vendors. The efforts have been extended into Mangakino Region with some housing and The Captain’s Cup. Additional land in the region will be purchased as it comes available so that vendors can be moved into that region to lessen the lag in each region. The vendors will be expanded to include as many as possible that are owned by people with real-life disabilities. We want to encourage and support the efforts of our residents to find ways to make money whether it is through being DJs, designing, scripting, becoming SL transcriptions, or another occupation. We would like to find people and funds to continue and expand our efforts to make SL a good place to be that is at least self-supporting for as many as possible.