cat nearly starved to death and I had to rescue her, my emotional reaction brought home to me just how “real” this virtual world has become!
Alcyan: What is your disability?
Gaia: I am severely visually impaired. I have some sight, but it may help to explain it this way. I can see at 4 feet what you can see at 400 feet, and then not as clearly as you do. To read print, I must magnify it anywhere from 20 to 35 times, and it must be clear, with good color contrast with the background. I prefer white letters on black text. If I look at someone, I can major details, like shape, hair color, and clothing, but not features like eye color or facial expression.
I have excellent adaptive software, most of which doesn’t work in SL, but my screen magnification does, so I use that extensively, and actually have 2 accounts, one exclusively for Radegast, a 3rd party viewer which allows use of my screen reader. Using 2 computers, I can have my main avatar and my alt in a sim at the same time, the alt is there specifically to allow me to use nearby chat, and do some other tasks that my screen reader does more efficiently than my screen magnifier.
Alcyan: Describe a normal day you spend in this virtual reality.
Gaia: Well, first, I dress my “girls” . I have 3 accounts, my main avi Gaia Maria, my main alt, Maria Seconda, and my “naughty” girl, Ambrosia Dreamlover. Each of them must be dressed, and of course, they are all vain.
Some days are already “written in” for specific events which have become traditions for me, but if not, I may choose a music event advertised by one of my groups, explore a sim from the Destination Guide, or visit a sim I landmarked earlier for one reason or another.
Sometimes, though, I’ll just sit in my lovely garden, listen to my stream, IM with friends, or just think or play with my cat.
Alcyan: Are you an active member of the Virtual Ability community?
Gaia: Yes. A very good friend referred me to VAI when I first came to SL almost 2 years ago, and 2 of its members were among my very first friends. I cannot even begin to praise them enough! They helped me get started, helped me figure things out, helped me get Gaia’s lovely home, supported and encouraged me, and have been an incredible resource ever since.