TechSoup will be hosting a free, one-day online event, Using Virtual Worlds & Emerging Technologies for People with Disabilities, this Friday, February 29th.

This interactive event will take place in two online locations: Second Life, and TechSoup's Community Forums.

At 9 AM PST there will be a live discussion with Simon Stevens in the Nonprofit Commons Amphitheater in Second Life.

Simon Stevens ("Simon Walsh" in Second Life) will give a virtual talk via text chat in Second Life. In Second LIfe, Simon is the Chief Executive of Enable Enterprises which manages the Wheelies Nightclub for people with disabilities in Second Life, and the Second Ability Second Life simulator. In real life, Simon has cerebral palsy and lives in Coventry, UK. He is a disability consultant and trainer working with large and small organizations. You can watch a video profile of Simon Stevens on YouTube (above).

From 10AM-6PM PST there will be a follow-up discussion in a Q&A, asynchronous (not-live) format in TechSoup’s Accessible Technology & Public Computing Forum.

No registration is needed; just show up and post your questions!

Participants will discuss:

• Innovative ways that emerging technologies are making technology more accessible for people with disabilities
• Ways people with disabilities can use technologies to expand their communities.
• How we can work to make accessibility a design priority in the virtual world as well as the real world.
• Free resources that are available to help people with disabilities find accessible technology tools.
• How nonprofit organizations can help make technology more accessible for people with disabilities.

Questions? Email: community@techsoup.org.