Charity opens facility to help disabled gamers

The AbleGamers Charity is opening its first AbleGamers Lab, a workshop designed to help disabled gamers enjoy the same access to the medium enjoyed by millions.

The facility is located in the charity’s headquarters outside of Washington DC, and features gaming devices and assitive technology designed to help special needs gamers enjoy their hobby.

“This day has been nearly a decade in the making and up until this point, the AbleGamers lab has only been a dream, but I’m proud to announce that this dream has become a reality,” said AbleGamers founder and director Mark Barlet.

“We already have our first appointment scheduled and will continue consulting with special needs gamers as quickly as we can. It is, has been, and will always be our primary goal to empower and enable any gamer with disabilities to play video games.”

Free consultation is available by appointment only. The time needed can vary based on an individual’s needs, but is expected to last between 1-2 hours.

The charity’s chief operations officer and outreach chair Steve Spohn says the facility is there thanks to the efforts of the wider games industry and community.

“We have had a tremendous outpouring of generosity from the videogame industry and community over the last year,” he said.

“These amazing donors have enabled us to begin consulting with gamers one-on-one to figure out the exact equipment each individual needs to get back into the game.”

For more information, or to schedule an appointment with one of the assistive technology specialists, contact the AbleGamers lab.