Voice and the Rights of the Deaf

I imagine you're talking about how Usagi called me "unprofessional"--not my response to that right?

I think Usagi brought up professionalism because I've worked in game design...that's what I gather.

Exactly. I wasn't questioning you, at least this time... I didn't make that connection,and even after you explained it, is still think it's kind of weak.

I have been trained as an American Sign Language interpreter and due to arthritis, both osteo and rheumatoid, have in times been confined to a wheelchair. While I have not sat down and read every single page, I have over the course of my life, had to deal with ADA guidelines. In short they are:

1. You cannot refuse to hire someone based solely on their handicap, unless that handicap completely prevents them from doing the job. I.E. A person in a wheelchair can be hired by the fire department for office jobs, but would not be able to fulfill to position of firefighter.

2. Most public buildings need to provide parking and access to the building. Most need to provide a ramp for those in wheelchairs and close parking for those that have problems crossing distances. Note that I said public buildings, many private businesses do not have to comply unless they have an employee that needs to be accomodated.

3. For people with communications disabilites, I.E. the hearing impaired, provisions must be made for them to be able to communicate. TDY phones, access to interpreters, when needed, and braille for the sight impaired. Again, this really applies if you hire someone with one of these disabilities. We had a deaf person, we had a TDY phone. She no longer works in the building, we no longer have a phone dedicated to that. I work in banking, in public buildings. But we do not have a TDY phone at every branch.

These are all reasonable accomodations for many handicaps. No where that I have read, does it state you must change your whole business to accomodate them. To do that, would be asking for every person in an office with a hearing impaired person to learn sign language. Or stating that NO ONE anywhere is ever allowed to talk, because someone might be excluded. The real problem is that we tend to forget that LL is a PRIVATE business, they do not have to make any accomodation at all. They choose to make whatever changes might appeal to the majority. Text is still available. In order for the ADA to possibly apply in this case, it would have to be taken away and nothing but voice offered. If LL hires a hearing impaired employee, they must make accomodations for that employee, but nothing has to be done to the game itself, if they so choose.

As for the OP, if your friend is having a hard time because of voice, he or she just needs to keep looking around. Most places I've been to are still mostly frequented by texters, not voicers. No one in my circle of friends really even wants to switch to voice. And none of us are hearing impaired. Those that are griefing others who are not using voice, probably miss the point of SL anyway and won't be with us long. Those of us who have found a real place in SL, are pretty willing to talk to anyone, no matter what form of communication we use.