To: Prospective Renters
From: Polgara Paine and Chade Villota, Accessible Builds
Before you rent a booth or shop from Accessible Builds, you should understand our philosophy and be willing and able to abide by the guidelines.
Respect for the Individual
We believe in an inclusive environment where all avatars are welcome as long as they demonstrate respect for others in the region. That respect includes both words and actions. We believe that inclusion means physical access as well as what we think of as perceived access. This does NOT mean that everyone in SL must walk or fly just because the platform allows it. It DOES mean that when a person chooses to come into SL with an avatar with a disability, that person should be provided with an environment that meets the Americans with Disabilities Act standards to the maximum extent possible. This includes builds with ramps instead of stairs, textures that would be accessible, for example, no carpets, rugs, or rocks, and the use of elevators instead of teleporters when possible.
Communications
We believe that accessibility includes communication modes and that generally text chat should be used so that no one who is deaf or hard of hearing will be excluded. One way to demonstrate that is to allow time for someone to ask or answer a question because the real person behind that avatar may need extended time to type an answer. Although we are also aware that voice chat may be the only means of accessibility for someone who is blind at this point in time. For this reason, when someone who is blind or has low vision is present, the use of both text and voice and good choices. Chade’s goal is to have this region be accessible to people who are blind within one year of our opening.
Merchandise
We believe that no one should waste money on clothing or any other item that does not fit or causes a wheelchair or a prosthesis to disappear or a script used to demonstrate a disability to be over ridden. That means avatars should be able to try on clothing to make sure an item fits before it is purchased or that some kind of provision for returns or adjustments be allowed for merchandise sold in your shops in Taupo. We also strongly encourage clothing designers to consider that many of the individuals in the region are looking for specifically designed clothing, for example, where a prim skirt is attached or how it drapes in a chair so that it does not appear to interfere with the operation of the wheelchair.
We do not accept vendors of weapons, instruments of restraint or torture, or of any items that demonstrate disrespect for another person or group of persons regardless of gender, race, religion, disability, or sexual preference, whether the avatar is representative of the human race or not.
If you have questions, please contact either Polgara Paine or Chade Villota.