Attendance:

ShockProof: The Sojourner, Marie Hightower, Franja Russell

Dreams: Chayla Sopor, Ned Nolan, Kipper Kolache

Others: Marsoups Hegel, Sheeana Swenson, Jordy Laffer, TIny Marbles, Make7UpYOurs Babcock, Isometric Bedlam, Leana Myer, Werand Cork

We started with introductions since the group was small. Marie and Soj are stroke survivors, Chayla, Ned, and Franja had relatives with stroke. Kipper and the others were present to listen in and learn more about the groups as well as ask questions.

Soj presented a brief explanation of the connection between BrainTalk.com, Second Life, ShockProof, and Dreams.

Topics we touched on:

Need for rehabilitation

Stroke Survivor vs Victim

We decided that initially you are a victim in that a stroke comes out of no where and your life is changed. While it is not the death of the person, it is the death of many of your
expectations and dreams.
It is a passive term. If you do not do anything to improve, you are a Victim. However, as you move forward, you are a Survivor. It is an active term. You are moving forward. But that term can also be passive because the fact that you are alive does not mean that you are trying to get better.

Marie coined the word: Striver (stroke survivor) which seems to fit the personna of those who are working in earnest to improve their situations.

Risk factors for stroke

family history

heart issues

age - Stroke can occur at any age. Recovery can occur at any age. However, since Time is a factor and resiliency is a factor, the amount of recovery can be affected by age.

diabetes

Stroke residuals

depression - meds are now being given to stroke survivors regardless if they consider themselves depressed and it is helping in recovery
depression can be physiological as well as a mental state

Learning to live with residuals vs moving forward

Need for vitamins and what the lack of some can do (ie: Vitamin B12)

Need for more stimulation

Issues for future consideration:
SL adaptations for people with physical computer difficulties
Creating environments where non-handic people can experience the difficulties that people with disabilities in SL and RL experience
Bringing in family members to SL to increase communication
Making SL more visible/used by the stroke community
Making sure they know the computer requirements ahead of time