See the amazing moment disabled children play video games for the first time

Never has scoring a goal on Fifa felt so good.

A small Oxford-based charity is transforming the lives of physically disabled children and adults by modifying video game controllers.

Elliot playing Sonic on the Xbox for the first time at SpecialEffect’s Accessible Games Room (Credit: SpecialEffect)

Whether that’s by enlarging buttons or enabling the games to be controlled using their eyes, SpecialEffect is helping kids like Becky, Addison and Jacob play games like Fifa, Minecraft and Civilisation V either on their own or with their brothers, sisters and friends.

Some disabled children can feel left out, unable to play football or ride a bike with their friends. But the adapted consoles allow them to play video games together.

Last week SpecialEffect opened their Accessible Games Room in Oxfordshire, where disabled people can try out the adapted equipment to see what is the easiest for them to use.

Lots of fun was had in the GamesRoom, when Jacob travelled with his Mum and Nan from Merseyside…

The small team, made up of gamers, tech experts and occupational therapists, will also be visiting disabled children and adults across the UK to let them try the games out.

Justin Tomlinson, the Minister for Disabled People who is also a video game enthusiast, went to Oxford with the Prime Minister to see the opening of the Games Room.

He said that SpecialEffect’s work was showing the “tremendously positive impact that inclusive technology can have on the lives of disabled children” and has taken on the role of Vice-President of the charity.

This isn’t the first time technology has changed the lives of disabled people. The Inclusive Technology Prize, run by the Government and the innovation charity Nesta, looks to inspire similar technological innovations from entrepreneurs which can give disabled people equal access to life’s opportunities.

SpecialEffect offers games adaptations for free and relies on donations.

If you want to help more disabled gamers access this great technology, visit: www.specialeffect.org.uk

Disability Confident

This month, the Government’s Disability Confident initiative is focusing on encouraging and giving advice to disabled people to help them start their own businesses.

Disability Confident aims to dispel the myths and preconceptions around working with disabled people in companies of all sizes.

To find out how your company can become Disability Confident, visit: www.gov.uk/disability-confident