Initiative Empowers Disabled Gamers to Shape the Future of Accessibility in the Video Game Industry

Author: AbleGamers Foundation
Published: 5 Jul 2017

Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Related Publications

Synopsis: Player Panels enlists gamers with disabilities to work with game companies and researchers as accessibility testers to help improve accessibility technologies and game design practices.

Introduction

Disabled gamers can sign up today to join the AbleGamers player panels team and work alongside top gaming companies...

Main Content

AbleGamers Foundation - the leading charity and organization wielding the power of gaming to break down the barriers of economic and social isolation for people with disabilities - is proud to announce Player Panels, a new initiative which partners AbleGamers and its community with top publishers, AAA and indie companies and leading researchers to ensure game accessibility is at the forefront of game development.

"I am thrilled that the game industry has reached a point where the needs of gamers with disabilities are being heard and that AbleGamers can partner with those in a position to best implement change," said Steve Spohn, AbleGamers COO. "The AbleGamers Player Panels initiative ensures that game companies and researchers have direct access to people with disabilities, and vice versa, for an on-going dialogue on improving accessibility. It's also very exciting that all organizations involved have agreed to compensate our gamers for their time."

Working with the University of York, AbleGamers' Player Panels enlists gamers with disabilities to work with game companies and researchers directly as accessibility testers to help lead the charge in improved accessibility technologies and game design practices. Player Panels team members will leverage their personal experiences and challenges faced playing games with their disabilities to shape the future of game accessibility.

"For the last 12 years, AbleGamers' in-house accessibility experts have provided game companies with critical input through our game accessibility reviews and Includification resources," said Christopher Power, Vice President of AbleGamers and Lecturer at the University of York. "Player Panels is the natural progression of that program. All of our testers live with disabilities, which allows them to offer the game industry in-depth insight to potential solutions that may not be apparent to people who have studied, but have not experienced disability firsthand."

AbleGamers' Player Panels will connect disabled gamers and top organizations that share the mutual goal of making sure as many people as possible can game comfortably regardless of their disability. Player Panels team member qualifications only require a love of video games and some form of disability. Those approved will be compensated for their time and expertise. Gamers with disabilities who are interested in joining can sign up today.