AbleGamers Launches Player Panels Initiative; Empowering Disabled Gamers and Reshaping the Future of the Game Industry

What You Need to Know:

• In partnership with the University of York, leading publishers, AAA to indie developers and other video game industry organizations, the newly announced AbleGamers' Player Panels provide gamers with disabilities the opportunity to provide first-hand knowledge as subject matter experts on how to best serve others sharing similar challenges.
• AbleGamers’ Player Panels enlists gamers with disabilities to work with video game companies and researchers directly to help lead the charge in improved accessibility technologies and game design practices. Player Panels team members will leverage their personal challenges (due to their various disabilities) faced while playing games, helping enhance and shape and the future of game accessibility based on real-world, first-hand experiences. Doing so will help to bridge the gap and to remove the stigma that being disabled prevents individuals from being able to participate, and demonstrate their talents within the industry.
• Player Panels 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 at www.ablegamers.org/player-panels.

Source: Official Press Release

Notable Quotes

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 participating panelists for their time.

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.

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These are the types of charities that more of us need to contribute to, because not only does it help to reshape the industry, but it helps to reshape our future.

Very well said Bombon, this certainly needs more attention from people around the world.