Games are More Than Fun… Gaming for ALL

‘Gaming’- not something we typically associate with AAC, but we know that it is often the topic of conversation for kids, teens, and even adults, therefore, it is a topic that goes with AAC.  Gaming can have a positive impact on socialization, interaction, communication, and inclusion associated with ‘gaming’.  The gaming experience can be a topic of conversation before, during, and after the actual game experience. Gaming can be added to an activity  schedule or on a choice board.  A mini-schedule can be created to teach the steps to setting up a game, playing the game, or to invite a friend to game.   Gaming is part of our pop culture (think Mario Brothers…). So we believe it should be an option if so desired.

We would not be thought of as gamers.  We have liked games and at times even loved them (think Astroids & Pac-Man), however we have not been involved with the social gaming experiences available today.  So when we came across 2 organizations dedicated to making gaming accessible to EVERYONE we had to share.

The AbleGamers Foundation is dedicated to bringing greater accessibility to the digital entertainment space so that people with disabilities can gain a greater quality of life, and develop a rich social life that gaming can bring.

SpecialEffect is a charity dedicated to helping ALL young people with disabilities to enjoy computer games.  SpecialEffect has the philosophy  that gaming impacts motivation, inclusion and quality of life. There is also a SpecialEffect free app that provides the latest game accessibility news and reviews as well as giving access to a database of information on accessible gaming hardware and software.