Wheelies is a disability themed virtual nightclub on the online platform ''

Second Life ''Second Life'' is an online multimedia platform that allows people to create an avatar for themselves and then interact with other users and user created content within a multi player online virtual world. Developed and owned by the San Fra ...

''. Created by

Simon Stevens Simon Laurence Stevens, Baron Stevens of Birmingham, (born 4 August 1966) is a British public policy adviser, former CEO, and independent member of the UK House of Lords. He served as the eighth Chief Executive of the National Health Service ...

, it was awarded the Revolutionary Award in 2008 by

Gordon Brown James Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party (UK), Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010. He previously served as Chance ...

History

Launched in September 2006, "Wheelies aims to make guests feel comfortable about disability as well as dancing, drinking and just plain having a good time." Destroyed in December that year by a

griefing A griefer or bad-faith player is a player in a multiplayer video game who deliberately irritates and harasses other players within the game (trolling), by using aspects of the game in unintended ways such as destroying something another player ma ...

attack, it was relaunched in May 2007.

The Revolutionary Award

The Revolutionary Award was awarded "for something that makes people in power more aware of the need for change" as part of the 2008 Community Awards for Social Technology (Catalyst). According to their website, Wheelies is "The world's first virtual disability nightclub. Based in Second Life, it is connecting disabled users and providing a platform for them to discuss common issues."

Other recognition

Stevens has been interviewed about Wheelies on the CBC news. The transcript from this broadcast was featured in the second edition of the

Pearson Longman Longman, also known as Pearson Longman, is a publishing company founded in London, England, in 1724 and is owned by Pearson PLC. Since 1968, Longman has been used primarily as an imprint by Pearson's Schools business. The Longman brand is also ...

book ''Open Book English Skills''. Stevens was also interviewed by the British newspaper ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...

'' and a Wheelies user was interviewed by the Australian site Web Usability. Wheelies has been discussed in a number of books, and in the BBC magazine along with a wider discussion of the use of ''Second Life'' by people with disabilities.

References

{{Reflist, 2

External links

* http://simonstevens.com/wheelies/
Web Archive: ukcatalystawards.com
Second Life