“By definition, accessibility means “the degree to which something is reachable.” For people living with disabilities, accessibility doesn’t just mean how reachable something is — oftentimes, the level of accessibility can define their ability to interact with and participate in certain activities or events, including entertainment.” [1]
“According to the CDC, 61 million Americans are living with disabilities, which makes accessibility in entertainment a huge priority for a large group of people. Increases in awareness of accessibility issues in gaming have inspired innovations in video game creation and assistive technology, to allow individuals to customize their game experience to their needs.” [1]
“Most mobile game apps are not designed for the use of persons with disability. But now, game developers are understanding the need for games that are accessible to individuals of all abilities. They understand and appreciate that people with physical and cognitive disabilities want and deserve to play games on their smart devices, just like other people do.” [2]
“Several decades ago, people might not be able to play video games unless they could physically hold and move a joystick. Now, adaptive controllers, closed captions, and VR sets have opened the world of gaming to all sorts of people with all sorts of bodily needs. Because video games are dynamic forms of media, creators can use a variety of sounds, visuals, and haptic cues to immerse all of a player’s senses.” [4]
Benefits of video games
“From apartments to hospitals, video games have potential to improve wellness.” [4]
“Despite the many risks associated with video games, many benefits have also been reported.” [3] Below we can see some of the advantages of playing video games.
- Enhancing cognitive abilities,
- Increasing emotional regulation,
- Managing chronic pain,
- Promoting physical activity
- Improved problem-solving
- Enhanced spatial awareness
- Greater neural processing and efficiency
- Enhanced attention functioning
- Improved creativity
- Increased flow, relaxation, and social connectivity
- Minimize social isolation
- Distraction from pain
- Relief from boredom due to immobility
- Reduction of anxiety and hyperactivity
- Improvement of mood and reduction of sadness
- Expanded Horizons through Virtual Worlds
List of fun accessible game and activity apps for disabled people (available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store)
“The benefits of video games for people with disabilities are far-reaching and transformative. Beyond entertainment, video games offer avenues for exploration, cognitive growth, and meaningful social interactions. As the perception of gamers broadens and inclusivity becomes a central focus, the potential for video games to positively impact the lives of individuals with disabilities continues to expand.”[5]
“Video games stand to offer much to the field of rehabilitation. There are numerous benefits that educators, practitioners, and researchers can take advantage of to help those with disabilities.” [3]
Resources
[1] https://www.verizon.com/about/blog/video-game-accessibility
[2] https://www.grayingwithgrace.com/game-apps-for-disabled-adults/
[3] https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fresc.2024.1343057/full
[6] https://otswithapps.com/2012/07/15/game-apps-for-individuals-with-special-needs/
[7] https://disabilityhorizons.com/2024/02/25-best-accessible-game-and-activity-apps/