Episode 13 of The Drax Files features our own Barbie and Fran and their story of how a family’s journey with Parkinson’s disease led them to discovering joy and surprising relief in a virtual world. The video below looks at why Second Life is a unique online platform that can offer support for people with chronic disease or disabilities, helping them face their everyday challenges. The Drax Files looks specifically at how Fran’s life has been affected by having a ‘healthy’ avatar in the virtual world. In Second Life Fran can go horseback riding, ice skating and dancing, and enjoys a relatively stress-free environment. “There’s a lack of dopamine that comes into your brain when you have Parkinson’s. So these activities are great for my condition because they are fun,” Fran says. Additionally, the video reveals the value of the social bonds that form in the virtual world where a social life in the physical world may be more limited. Fran’s story is part of the ongoing research that Donna Davis and Tom Boellstorff are currently doing with individuals with disabilities in virtual worlds. To follow their stories, keep your eye on this blog, or our Twitter account: @creations4PD. If you want to get involved in this research, email Donna at dzdavis@uoregon.edu.
