AbleGamers

The AbleGamers Foundation (also known as The AbleGamers Charity) is an American nonprofit organization and foundation dedicated to improving accessibility in the video game space, enabling more people with disabilities to be able to play video games.[1][2] The charity creates resources, assists individuals in getting the peripherals they need, runs scholarships,[3] and works with video game publishers and video game companies to improve accessibility.[4]

AbleGamers Foundation
Founded2004
FoundersMark Barlet and Stephanie Walker
TypePublic Charity
FocusGamers with Disabilities
Location
  • Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Area served
Internationally
Members
2000
Founder and Executive Director
Mark C. Barlet
Key people
Mark Barlet, Steve Spohn, Craig Kaufman
Revenue
~$495,000 in 2015
Employees
2
Volunteers
300
Websitehttp://www.ablegamers.org

History

AbleGamers was founded by Mark Barlet and Stephanie Walker in 2004 after Walker's multiple sclerosis began to interfere with her ability to control a computer mouse to play video games.[5] The charity works with individuals to assess their needs and challenges, determining what equipment they need to help them play video games, including both existing and new, custom-made hardware. This includes both online consultations and visits to the charity's facilities.[6] The charity helps up to 300 people every year through direct support, and more through online resources.[7] While the program was initially opened for applications only at certain times of the year, it began being offered year-round from 2013.[8]

The charity has opened Accessibility Arcades in locations such as Washington, D.C.'s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library and the University of Toronto's Semaphore Research Cluster, showcasing accessible hardware and games.[9][10] In 2013 the charity topped $100,000 USD in donations.[11]

January 2016 the charity announced that it was extending its mission to include a new program entitled "Expansion Packs". Partnering with sponsors, AbleGamers is building accessible game rooms for activity centers that support people with disabilities, the first being at the Pediatric Specialty Care in Hopewell PA.[12]

In 2017 AbleGamers started the Player Panels initiative, whereby gamers with disabilities work with game developers to improve the accessibility of upcoming games, and participate in research studies.[13]

The AbleGamers Foundation worked with Evil Controllers to design accessible peripherals for disabled gamers,[14] and in 2018 it was announced that the Xbox Adaptive Controller had been created in partnership with organisations including AbleGamers.[15]

On November 14, 2020 during their virtual convention "GlitchCon," live streaming service Twitch announced that they would be donating $1 million USD to the foundation.[16]

Center for Inclusive Play

In 2012, The AbleGamers Foundation opened "The AbleGamers Center on Game Accessibility and Inclusive Play" in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The center offered a place for people with disabilities to experience new accessible technology as well as a maker space for custom controller design and prototyping.[17]

AbleGamers' facility includes a lifesize Songbird from BioShock Infinite donated to the charity by Irrational Games in 2014,[18] in addition to rare items such as original Fallout concept art and signed games.[7]

AbleGamers expanded to a new facility, The AbleGamers Center for Inclusive Play, in Charles Town, West Virginia in 2017. The building was previously a US Coast Guard facility,[6] and includes space to hold consultations, demonstrations, and has a 3D printing studio for manufacturing of specialized equipment. It was funded by a grant from Level Access.[19] The new facility is a much larger space with more room for AbleGamers to create and display hardware, now has a dedicated streaming room, and had many features, such as wide doors, which made it beneficial for supporting disabled guests. AbleGamers would like to have facilities in more locations around the United States in the future.[6]

Awards

Mark Barlet, president of AbleGamers, received the 2012 American Association of People with Disabilities Hearne Leadership Award for his work at AbleGamers.[20]

In 2013, AbleGamers won an MS Society Da Vinci Award for their document "Includification: A Practical Guide to Game Accessibility", the first time the award had been given to a document and concept, not a product.[21]

The foundation distributes its own awards each year to the most accessible games released that year, with winners including FIFA 13 and Bayonetta 2.[22][23][24] The awards are given to games with customisable control schemes and colors, optional or minimal quick time events, and unique features such as Bayonetta 2's one-button combat mode.[23]

References
  1. Schuster, Shawn (9 April 2009). "Do Developers Consider Disabled Gamers Enough". Massively by Joystiq. Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  2. Adams, Paul (2011-07-14). "Gamers With Disabilities Battle Indifferent Industry". Wired Magazine. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  3. Minotti, Mike (1 December 2017). "AbleGamers will send 3 developers with disabilities to Train Jam and GDC 2018". VentureBeat. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  4. Corden, Jez (5 June 2018). "How AbleGamers aims to bring gaming to those with disabilities". Windows Central. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  5. "Xbox's Adaptive Controller aims to bring gaming to community of disabled players". CBC. 8 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  6. Mejia, Ozzie (9 May 2017). "How AbleGamers Turned an Old Coast Guard Facility to a Hub for Disabled Gamers". Shacknews. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  7. NG, Alfred (7 April 2017). "Playing Street Fighter with your face -- and kicking butt". CNET. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  8. "AbleGamers grant for gamers with disabilities now permanently open". Polygon. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  9. Mallory, Jordan (3 October 2012). "AbleGamers Foundation to open first permanent 'Accessibility Arcade'". Engadget. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  10. Tach, Dave (22 April 2014). "Accessibility Arcade for disabled gamers opens April 26 at the University of Toronto". Polygon. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  11. Tach, Dave (10 January 2014). "AbleGamers donations topped $100,000 in 2013". Polygon. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  12. "Ablegamers... So Everyone can Game!". Pediatric Specialty Care. December 19, 2015.
  13. Chacos, Brad (29 June 2017). "AbleGamers' Player Panels could make future games more disability-friendly". PC World. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  14. Fletcher, JC (24 June 2011). "'Adroit' controller line to make games more accessible". Massively by Joystiq. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  15. Conditt, Jessica (17 May 2018). "Xbox Adaptive Controller first look: A new, necessary gamepad". Engadget. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  16. Michael, Cale. "Twitch donates $1 million to AbleGamers during GlitchCon". Dot Esports. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  17. Tipps, Seth (12 September 2013). "Charity opens facility to help disabled gamers". MCV. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  18. "Songbird has Landed". YouTube. AbleGamers. January 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  19. Hall, Charlie (27 April 2017). "AbleGamers opens new facility to help those with disabilities get back in the game". Polygon. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  20. "Meet the 2012 Hearne Leadership Award Winners". AAPD. March 2012.
  21. "da Vinci Award Winners announced at gala April 11, 2013". National MS Society. April 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-07-10.
  22. Makuch, Eddie (2 January 2013). "FIFA 13 named AbleGamers Game of the Year". IGN. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  23. Matulef, Jeffrey (8 January 2015). "AbleGamers names Bayonetta 2 the most accessible mainstream game of 2014". Eurogamer. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  24. Tach, Dave (28 January 2014). "AbleGamers honors Final Fantasy 14, The Stanley Parable". Polygon. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
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