Gaming for All: Level the Playing Field for People with Disabilities

Gaming (specifically video games) is one of the few places where people with disabilities are not identified as disabled. For people with disabilities gaming fosters socialization, communication, community and friendship. In speaking with one of our PAL workshops partners who runs a special needs org. She stated that online minecraft gameplay has helped her son verbalize.

One statement that struck me is how parents teach children not to point or ask questions. In doing so children are taught to not be inquisitive, to keep to themselves and not to reach and out communicate. It actually hinders inclusiveness.

I also found it interesting (but not surprising) that a study has shown gameplay can be just as effective on pain as morphine.

Something else that was mentioned is how cheat codes are actually valuable when it comes to all players. In game play they help us with our handicap (need more lives? Need to jump higher? Move faster? ). Those with emotional disabilities can become superheros (Avengers). Those with physical handicaps can master martial arts (Tekken anyone?) or become rock stars (Kinnect Band).

All Ability Arcade
At the Brooklyn Public Library they create an arcade for people of all abilities using several TVs, projector screens, Xbox 360, One and PS4 units. Having enough that people can rotate. They offer games like Kinnect Band, Fruit Ninja, Forza Racing. They also use different types of controllers for people with special needs.

The ability of the Kinnect system on the Xbox allows for controller free gaming, facial recognition, play through motion sensors and voice activation. Games are also being programmed with color inversion for the visually impaired.

Controllers
Adroit switchblade controller (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTdilfec0wI)
*can be tailored to suit physical disabilities by strapping buttons to shoulder, arms, armrests of wheelchairs. Buttons can be fully optimizedbro be where the person can function most.
*Flat switches, jelly switches, buttons, etc.

LPPad
*Extra large buttons allow for easy access

When offering these programs all the same concepts for making storytime accessible apply to a gaming arcade. Visual timers, a cool down room and things that may help someone get to a calm state are needed to create a successful program and environment.

Programs like this offer tools and technology that may otherwise not be available to this demographic. The one thing that was highly stressed is that games are a shared experience that bring us together. No matter what your "perceived" limitations are in the real world, none of that matters when you are trying to conquer level 3. This is something that everyone playing that particular game will understand and it is those experiences that can lead to conversation, sharing strategy and ideas, a dialogue of tips and tricks, and ultimately community building (ever hear about E3 or the countless blogs, vlogs, chatrooms, magazines, water cooler talks at work about gaming).

Gaming is universal and this program proved that it can also be accessible for everyone if we offer the tools and time. 

Some other games we can offer are accessible board games like uno, bingo, scrabble, monopoly.  Games that are easy to see (large print) and often come in large size edition.

Brooklyn library also offers "Tech Talk Tuesdays" and they give presentations on ios/Android Accessability aps, accessible board games (as mentioned above) and brail materials that can be used for gaming. 

Exer-gaming: Virtual Bowling
The other program that was presented was by the Director of Access Services and her staff at Washington DC public.  They created a bowling league for adults and teens using the xbox systems and Kinnect.  They found most people like bowling and it was a great way to encourage interaction both afvthe senior centers and at the library. They got this idea from the Washington DC Dept. Of Aging who were already doing this program in senior centers.

What they found was that some seniors don't want to hang out at the senior center "with old people". So the library adult bowling league is the perfect place as the library does not carry the "stigma" of senior center. To be fare this was the presenters father who felt this way but I have heard other stories of this type of thinking.

The goal for this project is to create leagues across DC. Bowling transcemdsnlanguage barriers and with the diverse make-up of DC it has proven to be a great program. We heard a story about 1 immigrant who live in a neighborhood where their language isn't spoken but the library is the safe place to interact and be a part of the community so she plays in the league.

I'm think these types of programs are definitely within our reach and our ability to ("Ranchofy"?..."to Cucamonga-it"?)...to do it the "Rancho way" would make them incredibly successful in our community.

STATS
*Not so surprising statistcis is the age of gamers (see photo)
*Slightly over 50% of gamers are male,
the rest female

RESOURCES
Ablegamers Gamers: approach game developers about making games accessible to all gamers of all abilities.

Book: What Video Games Have to Teach us about Literacy by James Paul Gee

Games:
*Air Band- play air guitar and shred like never before.  Great for physically impaired.
*In the Pit (Xbox)-all audio but not meant to be for disabled audience.  Great game for visually impaired. 
*Fruit Ninja
*Lifeline (audio)

Magical Bridge Playground (accessible Playground)

Keywords: Grey area disability, accessibility camps,