On the heels of its first annual charity gala, in partnership with StreamLabs, AbleGamers has managed to raise nearly $40,000 to support players with disabilities across the United States.
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Who are The AbleGamers?
The AbleGamers is an American non-profit that exists to combat social isolation for players with disabilities. The group is dedicated to making video games more accessible for people with disabilities, including those with physical and cognitive impairments. AbleGamers’ work in the field includes creating solutions with game developers to improve accessibility features and standards, providing grants for assistive technology, and advocating for the gaming community to become more inclusive overall.
From their website:
Creating opportunities that enable play in order to combat social isolation, foster inclusive communities, and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. People with disabilities are 51% more likely to be socially isolated than their non-disabled peers. You want people with disabilities to have rich well rounded lives that let them be their best selves and to have something to look forward to. Your support works every day to bring play to those desperately needing it, and we do it at no cost to the people we serve.
https://ablegamers.org/
The organization is popular among gamers who developed or began to experience a disability later in life, as the group has extensive expertise in building adaptive gaming equipment for gamers with limited abilities.
Can video games help players with disabilities?
Video games are a great way to combat social isolation; something individuals with disabilities experience for a variety of reasons, including limited access to appropriate healthcare, transportation, education, and employment.
The lack of accessibility at social events and places of public accommodation, in addition to negative attitudes and stereotypes, in tandem with communication disabilities, often does not create environments conducive to opportunities for social interaction. Because of the overwhelming number of barriers individuals with disabilities face to participate in and access services, it can be challenging to recreate situations in which PwDs have chances to build relationships and connect with others, leading to feelings of loneliness and social exclusions.
Are video games effective at reducing feelings of loneliness?
Studies suggest that video games can help reduce social isolation, particularly for those with perceived loneliness, by providing a sense of community and connection with other players online. Additionally, multiplayer games can help people develop social skills and increase their confidence in social situations – when used effectively.
Similarly, AbleGamers believes video games can provide a sense of community and connection through online chat and multiplayer modes. The organization has established lines of communication and services to support gamers who require things like adaptive controllers, modified consoles, and much more. At a strategic level, the organization has also championed Accessible Player Experiences (APX), a standard to help developers improve the accessibility of their games.
What’s next for AbleGamers?
Given the increasing popularity of streaming platforms like Twitch, Kick, Caffeine, and YouTube, we anticipate AbleGamers will continue to champion more accessible experiences across these services. With Twitch now boasting an audience the size of Disney Plus, there is no reason to believe that the industry will do anything but grow for the foreseeable future; with a stakeholder group that includes viewers, gamers, and live streamers with disabilities.
As the industry continues to standardize, we believe The AbleGamers will have a much larger role in establishing best practices and processes to ensure that gaming and live streaming as a medium are accessible to all.
Rock on AG and congrats on your fundraising!