Philip Connolly’s Post

It's #DisabilityPrideMonth! ♿🎮🤝 We'd love to highlight a few amazing UK-based organisations and initiatives dedicated to fostering accessibility and inclusion in gaming. Check out SpecialEffect, a charity that transforms the lives of people with physical disabilities through the innovative use of technology to help them play video games. We love Safe In Our World, a charity focused on raising mental health awareness and providing support within the gaming community, with a strong commitment to inclusivity. Everyone Can is a charity that helps disabled people through the power of technology, providing gaming opportunities and support. Game Accessibility Nexus is a community focusing on making games more accessible through awareness, collaboration, and advocacy. Blind Burners is a community dedicated to making gaming accessible for blind and visually impaired gamers, offering support and resources to ensure everyone can enjoy gaming. #Raisethegame is an initiative that aims to improve diversity and inclusion across the games industry, including promoting accessibility for gamers with disabilities. Playing Attention focuses on raising awareness and supporting neurodiversity in gaming and game development, providing resources and advocacy for a more inclusive industry. The Games Accessibility Knowledgebase is run by Harriet Frayling, Project Lead & Accessibility Consultant at Many Cats Studios. The knowledgebase is a live, centralised location for the endless and ever evolving information and knowledge regarding games accessibility. There are so many more and some we may not know about! Please share in the comments any we may have missed / any champions people should know about! 💗 (Links to all mentioned will be in the comments) #dei #raisethegame #inclusioningames #DisabilityPrideMonth #AccessibilityInGaming #InclusionMatters

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲: 𝗔 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻! (part 3) As we navigate the exciting possibilities of the metaverse, we must approach its development with a clear focus on inclusivity and accessibility. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨, but only if we actively prioritize their needs and experiences. Building an inclusive metaverse requires a 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 from all stakeholders – technology companies, policymakers, disability advocates, and the broader community. It involves implementing 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀, such as closed captioning, audio descriptions, and customizable interfaces, to accommodate diverse needs. It also means 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 with the disability community to understand their requirements and preferences, ensuring their voices are heard and valued. Furthermore, we must address the digital divide and ensure that young people with disabilities 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 and internet connectivity to participate in the metaverse. This may require 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 to provide affordable and accessible solutions, particularly in underserved communities. Beyond the technical aspects, building an inclusive metaverse also demands a shift in mindset and culture. We must foster a culture of 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆, 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 for individuals with disabilities. This involves challenging stereotypes, promoting positive representations, and actively working to dismantle barriers to inclusion. The call to action is clear – let us come together to build a metaverse that genuinely reflects the diversity of our world. By prioritizing inclusivity and accessibility, we can create a space where young people with disabilities can find connections, support, and opportunities to thrive. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 ...𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀. 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻! The metaverse presents a unique opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of young people with disabilities. Let us seize this moment and work towards a world where no one is left behind and where every individual can find a sense of belonging and purpose. #disablities #metaverse #VRhealthcare Aimedis LifeFamily Marcus Tan Vanessa Millar

🎮 Gaming for Connection: Breaking Barriers with Disability 🎮 Gaming isn’t just about entertainment—it’s a powerful tool for building community and creating connections, especially for people living with disabilities. This inspiring story highlights how gaming has become a lifeline for those like Michael, who lives with Maffucci syndrome, offering a space to interact, socialise, and thrive in ways that might not always be possible offline. 🌟 It’s a reminder of the importance of inclusion and the amazing possibilities technology offers for connection. 💙 Read more here: https://postly.click/tij #Inclusion #GamingWithDisability #CommunitySupport #Accessibility #ConnectionThroughGaming 🎮🌈

I am excited to share a recent project of mine that I developed during my time at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences! Collaborating with a talented peer, we were tasked with creating an engaging game tailored for children with mental and physical disabilities. This endeavor was commissioned by Modem Expertnetwerk from Research Group Mobilab & Care, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities. Upon connecting with our client Wim De Backer, we discovered that the primary challenge lay in embracing simplicity. It was crucial to ensure our game remained straightforward, considering the unique cognitive and physical hurdles our target audience faces. We removed complex game economies and the need for weighted decision-making, where one choice carries more weight than another. This decision was driven by the recognition that some individuals may find it difficult to differentiate between choices. Simplifying the experience was essential to ensuring accessibility and inclusivity. Despite encountering limitations, we were determined to create an engaging experience, leading to the development of our game, "Grow More". Drawing inspiration from the popular cookie clicker system, our game allows children to interact with virtual plants by simply clicking on them. Witnessing the plants grow with each click adds a sense of accomplishment. Once fully grown, players can choose a new spot to cultivate another plant, with increasing difficulty as the game progresses. The name "Grow More" reflects our mission: to foster growth and learning, while also paying homage to our alma mater, Thomas More University, for entrusting us with this impactful project. To ensure inclusivity in our game, we considered the diverse physical abilities of our audience. Working closely with our client, we aimed to make the game accessible to all. We implemented a cookie clicker system so children could play using a mouse. For those with limited mobility, we added features allowing interaction via the spacebar and sight-based input. These design choices ensure every child, regardless of their abilities, can fully enjoy and benefit from our game. Another challenge we faced was the need to minimize stimuli in our game for users who may experience sensory overload. To address this, we added a settings menu that lets players adjust or mute music and remove background visuals. These customization options allow players to enjoy the game comfortably without overwhelming sensory input. By prioritizing simplicity and accessibility, we kept the game enjoyable and stress-free. I'm thrilled to announce the successful completion of this project! We met our objectives and created an engaging game tailored to our audience's needs. As a Digital Innovation TM student at Thomas More University, I'm grateful for the chance to work on a project that significantly impacts these children's lives. #ThomasMoreUniversity #DigitalInnovation #EmpoweringEveryChild

Fellow game devs and designers, let's talk disability accessibility in games. My wife and my best friend want to play many games. They simply cannot. Why? Both have no hands. It causes them massive gaming problems. So many games tout accessibility, but often forget groups with no hands or limited hand functionality. My wife Claire and my friend Katie are great Warcraft players, because they can handle the controls. All too often controls require to move the character on the keyboard whilst moving the camera with the mouse. They cannot do this, only able to use one thing at a time. They cannot handle a mouse and keyboard simultaneously. Add in shift key combinations and they are totally done. Warcraft has a camera mode where it can auto track the character with an over the shoulder view, without requiring separate camera management. Both of them have high level Warcraft characters and play just fine. They can use the mouse, holding it between both arm stumps, but right there means they cannot use a keyboard at that time. Warcraft offered them the perfect control mechanism with the auto camera, sticky keys and just pushing the cursor keys to move. I think all too often we overlook people with hand disabilities. I was talking with a lovely industry person last night with arthritis and limited hand use. So much work is being done on accessibility, but there is further to go for people with many disabilities, not just hands. How do we deal with this at Athena Worlds? We get sanity checks by giving our titles to Claire and Katie and others with disabilities to play from early design stage. They challenge our assumptions on a daily basis and for the better! As an industry we are improving, but we need ongoing discussion with those that really matter for accessibility, the disabled gamers themselves. #videogames #gamedesign #inclusion #disability #gamedevelopment

"For many gamers living with disabilities, their favourite virtual adventure is more than just data on a disc, it's a portal to an even larger community of gamers, many of whom also live with and understand the struggles of their specific disability." Wonderful piece ahead of International Day of Persons with Disabilities by Josh on the role video games can play in the lives of players with disabilities. Gaming is more than just a hobby - the communities and experiences built within virtual worlds can have a huge impact on so many aspects of a person's life! Games and hardware need to be accessible in order to remove barriers preventing players from having these experiences! https://lnkd.in/gxtmx_v6

🏆 Today is the anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act (circa 1990), a landmark regulation that promotes equal opportunity for all. No one should be discriminated against when it comes to employment, regardless of mental and physical conditions. When it comes to the sphere of video games, there are 3B gamers but not all have an equal opportunity to engage with gaming products due to problems with accessibility or interpretation. NPR estimates that there are 46M gamers with disabilities and this estimate varies based on what one considers an impairment. Of hundreds of thousands of video games out there, it stands in the few hundreds of games that support accessibility in a conscientious and standout way. But who is moving this space forward? How are advancements in haptic feedback, voice recognition, motion sensors, hardware, and AI changing the cost profile for supporting accessibility? Alexander Dunn, Founder, and CEO of Cephable, is building an input mediation platform and a marketplace for games that support adaptive controls and joins me on air to talk about the state of adaptive gaming. 🔊 We discuss: What are impairments games ought to be looking out for? What are adjustments games can make to mitigate those impairments? The 1st party (XBOX and Sony) are pushing this space forward, but at a hefty price point for the consumer. Why? Why is this a good "demographic" (LTV's 2x-3x that of a normal gamer) What resources are there for studios to learn about how to lean in? (The AbleGamers Charity, Be Player One, International Game Developers Association (IGDA®) That and more! Listen to the full episode Naavik on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube in the comments.

There are still so many gaps in accessibility and equitable gaming, but where do we start and how do we close them? Alexandra Takei and I dive into all of this and more - checkout our podcast episode below! #accessibileGaming #a11y #ADA #SoEveryoneCanGame #GamingForAll #AI Cephable

When everybody plays, we all win. This month, we are proud to recognize the 425+ million players in the vibrant Gaming & Disability Community. By fostering inclusive communities, enabling accessible design, and continually investing in accessibility, we aim to break down barriers and ensure that everyone can enjoy the magic of gaming. Here are a few ways to support the cause: WATCH: Since 2014, Microsoft and Special Olympics have partnered to empower athletes through technology, evolving to include the annual Gaming for Inclusion event by Special Olympics and Xbox. This Saturday, the official Xbox and Special Olympics YouTube Channels and the Official Xbox Twitch Channel will broadcast the Gaming for Inclusion Showcase, where winners from the qualifying tournament will showcase their competitive skills in Forza Motorsport. GIVE: Rewards members in select countries can donate points to organizations supporting people in the gaming and disability community with Xbox. The featured organizations are: 1) SpecialEffect, which transforms the lives of physically disabled people across the world through the innovative use of technology. 2) Warfighter Engaged, whose mission is to improve the lives of severely wounded and disabled warfighters through custom adapted devices. 3) AbleGamers, which creates opportunities that enable play in order to combat social isolation, foster inclusive communities, and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. PLAY: Celebrate the Gaming and Disability community through the power of play! Connect and play games that allow you to immerse yourself in a variety of perspectives and experiences. For Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members, explore the Xbox Game Pass Gaming & Disability community collection and the PC Game Pass Gaming & Disability community collection. Explore some of the featured titles below.

🌟 Revolutionising Disability Inclusion in Education with VR 🌟 We’re proud to share a compelling blog by disability rights campaigner, #WillPike, that delves into the vital topic of disability inclusion within the education sector. Will explores how Virtual Reality (VR) is set to transform the educational experience for disabled students, breaking down barriers and fostering greater participation. 🔍 In this blog, Will discusses: ✴️Key Barriers: Understanding the physical, communication, and learning obstacles that hinder disabled students. ✴️VR Solutions: How VR can provide remote learning opportunities, create inclusive environments, support assistive technology, and enhance engagement and motivation. ✴️Future Possibilities: Exploring virtual curricula, virtual social events, and the potential of entirely virtual universities. ✴️Beyond VR: The role of AI in further supporting accessibility and inclusion for disabled students. By leveraging VR technology, educational institutions can create more accessible and engaging learning environments, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to participate and thrive. 📖 Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/eHMjySaX Join us in exploring how VR is paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future in education. #DisabilityInclusion #VirtualReality #EdTech #InclusiveEducation #Accessibility #Innovation #HigherEducation #StudentSupport #DigitalTransformation