Virtual Ability Island--A different type of SL introduction

Previously called the Heron Sancutary after the last name of the three founding avatars, Virtual Ability Island was established in January 2008.  You can read more about the fascinating history of Virtual Abiliity Island on its website  http://virtualability.org

Virtual Ability SLURL is  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Ability/69/175/23

From its mission statement

Virtual Ability, Inc.'s vision is to be the leading provider of services for and information about the disabled in electronic virtual worlds.

Virtual Ability, Inc.'s mission is to enable people with a wide range of disabilities to enter into electronic virtual worlds, and provide them with a supporting environment once there.

Because of its mission, Virtual Ability Island offers a more holistic approach to SL orientation.   Gentle Huron and HVX Silverstar (RL-Bernadette Daly Swanson, University of California Davis) created a 3 part High Definition Machinima to showcase that orientation. All the videos are available o You Tube

From Bernadette's email, dated January 4,  2009

Note the latest Flash plugin is required on browsers in order to access the HD versions and high quality versions of videos on YouTube.  If not, the links for watching in HD or for high quality (at lower right of the YouTube viewer) do not show up. 

Virtual Ability Orientation ONE in Second Life® - part 1 of 3 (HD 720p)
(arrow keys for navigation, camera controls activities with built-in assessment, mac specialist for assistive technologies, mouselook and how to exit, pose balls and picnic
thieves, learning more about the inspiration behind the Virtual Ability Inc./Alliance Library System life-changing Second Life project - Gentle Heron talks about her interview with Voice of America, and we dance out with dance animation,
lime jelly and the music of Jarrod Pedone ASCAP, "Countercall" )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAjG4Tv6LvU&fmt=22

Virtual Ability: Orientation TWO in Second Life®: part 2 of 3 (HD 720p)
(learning to fly in the butterfly aviary, zooming in with your camera controls to get an even better look, flight rewards in Second Life, introducing communication features, talking monkey bot -- ask him a question, "What is your disability?"  "Doesn't everyone have a disability!"
IM window, buying and getting things in your inventory.. then wearing it -- great example of built-in assessment, and the teleport maps created by Krull Aeon.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntRpndqwO6E&fmt=22

Virtual Ability Orientation THREE in Second Life®: Part 3 of 3 (HD 720p)
(covering inventory search, finding and wearing t-shits, how not to wear a box! and cleaning up after yourself.... teleporting and climbing trees!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFE5G8gP5_g&fmt=22