There were several great speakers and other guests for this years IDRAC 2025. This was the 14th year of this conference and like almost every year, despite technical issues, the volunteers of Virtual Ability manage to work around issues and still put on a nearly-flawless show.
I am lucky enough to be one of the many people who work to put these conferences on and we are already working on plans for springs Mental Health Symposium 2026.
This year’s IDRAC theme I feel is especially relevant to those of us who have disabilities and not just in the United States. People all over the world regularly imperil people with disabilities and justify it with many means, including dehumanization, because if you don’t fit their narrow idea of a person then you must not be one.
I know, that sounds funny coming from a digital avatar that looks like a tiger but there’s a person behind this avatar, a disabled person who has been treated, while better than many, with considerable disrespect over the years. This is one reason I mainly use the avatar of a tiger, I remain the same person no matter the shape I use in Second Life, or if I use a white cane or an assistive reading device in the physical world. However, certain people insist on seeing difference where there is no significance.
I work with Virtual Ability in a virtual world, however, I have done much the same thing in the physical world with other organizations and ran meetings, conferences and even helped put on events with big name entertainers. Most of the people in Virtual Ability are disabled or work directly with the disabled and the group does just fine.
I have said it before, “I don’t make myself disabled, other people make me disabled.” Sure, it is true that my vision is pretty terrible. I am moderately blind. I consider myself lucky because I can still do a great deal. Each Virtual Ability member contributes in their own way as much as they can and we work together well and get the job done.
For recordings from this year’s IDRAC or MHS, visit Virtual Ability’s YouTube channel.
Remember friends, diversity is not a nice thing to have, it is a necessity.
