Helping Hands, a D/deaf VR Community

March 30, 2025

Helping Hands is a volunteer-run community bringing sign language and Deaf culture to a wider audience through VR. Started in 2018, it has helped thousands of people around the world learn sign language and connect through Discord and the virtual reality platform VRChat. XR Access Director of Operations Dylan Fox will be joining a panel of Helping Hands community members in VRChat to talk about the impact VR has had on D/deaf communities, the challenges of signing in VR, and more.

This event will feature American Sign Language interpretation. If you require additional accessibility accommodations, please email info@xraccess.org no fewer than 72 hours before the event.

Event Details

Date: Sunday, March 30th, 2025

Time: 9am-10pm PT / 12pm – 1pm ET

Location: VRChat: Helping Hands Learning Center, streamed to Zoom

How to Join

On Zoom

1. Register via Zoom
2. Click the join link sent via email

On VRChat (Desktop or VR Headset)

1. First, make sure you have an existing VRChat account linked to the account you use while in the app, especially when using a Quest, Pico, or other Android / similar VR devices.
   1. If you already have a linked VRChat account, skip to Step 3. 
   2. If  you do not have a VRChat account, you will need to create a new VRChat account first on any device (PC or on mobile with access to a browser).
2. After this account is created in browser, it will need to be linked appropriately to the platform you use to sign into VRChat with (e.g. Steam, Meta, Pico or Viveport). Below is how to do so:
   1. Open VRChat
   2. In game, open the Main Menu (esc on desktop) and navigate to Settings.
   3. On the Settings page, you can find the “Link Account” button below “Exit VRChat.” (If the button is not visible to you, you are already logged into a full VRChat account.)
   4. After you click Link Account, you can select to use an existing account (the one you just created.)
   5. Using “Existing Account” will merge everything from your platform account to the VRChat account you complete the process with.
   6. After this, simply follow the instructions shown and your account is ready to go!
3. Go to VRChat.com and log in to your linked account. 
4. Click on this link to where this panel will be hosted when the event is starting.
5. On this page will be two yellow buttons.  Click on “Invite me,” do NOT click “Launch World.”
6. In game in VRChat, you should now receive an invite from yourself to the world. Click on it, and accept it by clicking the checkmark!
7. You will now be teleported to the world where the panel is hosted! Enjoy!

If you have trouble or want to learn more about Helpign Hands, you can join the Helping Hands Discord here. Please be courteous and respect the server rules!