The Affordable Care Act and You

PRESENTER: Jayme Nelson, RN, MS
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 11:30am PT
The Sojourner Auditorium, Virtual Ability Island, Second Life

Are you wondering how the Affordable Health Care Act (US federal legislation) might affect you and/or your caregiver? This presentation will highlight some of the key features of the Affordable Health Care Act with a particular emphasis on components relevant to those with disabilities.

Posters created by student nurses expanding on this topic will be displayed on the nearby lawn.

Presenter Bio: Jayme Nelson is an Associate Professor of Nursing.  Jayme has presented nationally and internationally on topics relevant to health care ethics.  A professor for 13 years and still a practicing nurse in the Emergency Room, Jayme's nursing experience has primarily been in organ transplantation, trauma, and critical care.  As a parent to a child with a chronic illness (Lupus), Jayme is interested in the experiences of those accessing the health care system from both the provider and client aspect.  Jayme uses a great deal of technology in the classroom (Vodcasts and simulation) and has been a member of Second Life for several years now.

Presented in Voice, with text transcription.

The slides of Jayme's presentation are posted here:

http://www.slideshare.net/nelsjaym/affordable-care-act-17069472?utm_source=slideshow03&utm_medium=ssemail&utm_campaign=share_slideshow

IRS "Schedule A" Recruitment and Hiring Program

PRESENTER: Haymaker Cobalt
Wednesday, February 27, 2013 10:00am PT
The Blue Orchid Cabana, Virtual Ability Island, Second Life

The IRS is the US government's Internal Revenue Service, the agency responsible for enforcing tax laws and collecting federal taxes (www.irs.gov). The IRS is committed to maintaining a diverse workforce. Learn about the IRS Recruitment Office's Disability Recruitment Program and the Schedule A Hiring Authority.

Presenter Bio: In RL, Haymaker Cobalt is an IRS employee and for the past 3 years, he has been a part of the IRS Disability Recruitment and Hiring team.

Presented in text, with optional voice transcription.

Benefits of Virtual Worlds for People with Lifelong Disability

PRESENTER:  Kenyon Serenity, Researcher, Molde University College, Norway
Monday August 27, 10 am PDT
The Sojourner Auditorium, Virtual Ability Island, Second Life

Kenyon will present her initial findings from her PhD work, with working title "What are the affordances offered by Virtual Worlds for people with lifelong disability?"

Focus for this presentation is identifying the gaps in current literature in this field, and how people with lifelong disability relate to their virtual selves and others.

Presenter Bio: Kenyon is a researcher at Molde University College, Norway, working on her PhD focusing on virtual worlds and people with lifelong disability.

Virtual Ability Wins Reader's Choice Award from "Virtual Education Journal"

Thank you educators and readers of the "Virtual Education Journal"  for recognizing Virtual Ability Island as winner of the Reader's Choice Award for "Best Orientation Tutorial/Sim/Website For Newcomers."

The design of VAI's New Resident Orientation Course is based on principles of andragogy and the theory of Universal Design. Andragogy describes principles of learning by adults, rather than children. Universal Design states that products and environments should be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.