The AbleGamers Charity

Come visit our team in the Voodoo Ranger Lounge at PAX West! The Lounge is a great place to refresh and recharge at PAX. The AbleGamers team will be there with exclusive AbleGamers x Voodoo Rangers collab t-shirts. 👀 Stop by and get yours! Learn about adaptive gaming in healthcare during the panel discussion on Saturday at 10:30am in the Frog Theater. AbleGamers' Sr. Director of Peer Counseling Dr. Andy J. Wu is on the panel and will be sharing his insights alongside other industry experts. We're looking forward to seeing everyone and celebrating accessibility in gaming at PAX West!

Meet Courtney! Courtney struggled with using controllers to game since her car accident. ”My left hand didn't work well. I was frustrated and sad that I was having so much trouble” After searching online for suggestions on how to use controllers, Courtney found AbleGamers. With the help of the Peer Counseling team, Courtney was able to select a controller that worked for her and allowed her to start gaming again. ”Counseling helped to figure out what I needed to move on in game play” For Courtney, getting back into gaming was about more than just having fun; it was a way for her to connect with people. ”[Gaming is] like getting away. I can talk with other people without going out. Due to my limits of going out and meeting new people, this is a fun way to do that. Also games help my brain think and learn new things.” The power of play is life-changing for disabled players. Why is gaming important to you?

We'd ALL rather be gaming, if we are honest. But for some folks, that's not possible without some help. Meet Brandon, Ray, and. Ezra: three gamers who needed help getting their accessible gaming set ups customized. With assistance from AbleGamers' team of expert peer counselors, all three of them were able to connect with friends and family and start gaming. It's so much more than a game. For Ray, it's about building a supportive network and community. For Brandon, it's about playing games with his kids and family. For Ezra, it's about finally being able to game with his brothers. Accessible gaming changes lives, and we need your help to do it. Be a game changer in someone's life: https://lnkd.in/gzgN5BFe https://lnkd.in/gzegUBk9

Our friends at Logitech G are celebrating play all week long with #logiPLAYDays ! From August 11th to the 17th, the week will be filled with breakthrough brand activations, esports tournaments, events, massive giveaways, social good, and one-of-a-kind creator content. In an effort to bring the joy of play to everyone, creators are also joining in fundraising efforts for AbleGamers during logiPLAY Days. We cannot wait for all the fun and excitement of the week! Be sure to check out all the great events Logitech is organizing, and learn more about what accessible gaming for all means: https://lnkd.in/g2VB4Nvw

They can finally game together. Joshua's family loves to game. Until they connect with AbleGamers, Joshua could only watch his family play. Now, thanks to a custom setup and the expertise shared by our Peer Counseling Team, Joshua is gaming with his whole family. Who do you game with? 🧡 https://lnkd.in/gAUhXjJF

The Quad Gods organization was founded with the goal to integrate and highlight gamers with disabilities as serious esports competitors, and they are doing just that. Since 2019, the Quad Gods have been competing (and winning) in eSports tournaments and making headlines for accessibility. Recently, the Quad Gods' story was was made into an HBO documentary that showcases the lives of some of the team's players. We are grateful to get to collaborate and partner with the Quad Gods at AbleGamers. The Quad Gods have supported accessibility events in New York alongside our team. Members of the Quad Gods also offer support as Peer Counselors with us, helping disabled players get into gaming. The lived experience and encouragement they provide is life changing for disabled players. Gaming provides a way to connect with others that may otherwise be impossible for some players, and the Quad Gods are helping guide players to gaming setups that let them experience those connections. ”When players see the Quad Gods, they can relate to them,” explains Dr. Andy J. Wu, Senior Director of Peer Counseling at AbleGamers, “They see what the Quad Gods can do and feel like it's possible to get into gaming again. It gives them hope.” Thanks to a grant from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, we had the opportunity to partner with the Quad Gods to provide much needed guidance disabled players through our Powered by AbleGamers program. Because of partnerships and collaborations like this, we are able to reintroduce fun, hope, and community connection into the healing process. Ready to help change lives? Learn more about enabling play: https://lnkd.in/gTUPYYCW

“[Gaming] allows me to be able to control more in my life.” - Dereck L. Dereck was tired of just watching television and wanted to play video games again. He was looking for more ways to occupy his time and to connect with family members and friends. He reached out to AbleGamers, and our team of expert Peer Counselors got him ready to game again. “This gift, the charity, has literally changed my life and I am extremely grateful.” Accessible gaming is about so much more than just playing a game. It's about freedom, friendships, connections, and community. It changes lives. When you are considering making a donation, consider AbleGamers. Together, we can change lives through play: https://lnkd.in/gzgN5BFe

Thanks to our friends at PlayStation, AbleGamers had the opportunity to attend EVO in Las Vegas and showcase the PlayStation Access Controller. Our team shared expertise on gaming comfortably with attendees and hosted two adaptive gaming tournaments. Thanks again to PlayStation for making this happen and helping enable play!

Accessible gaming looks like joy. There are endless set up options for accessible gaming. Our team of experts at AbleGamers works with individual players to customize their gaming set up so that it helps them play the games they want to play. Learn more: https://ablegamers.org/ https://lnkd.in/gDxvWUVV

Steven Spohn shared the importance of accessibility in gaming at TennoCon this past Saturday. Accessible gaming changes lives, something our friends at Digital Extremes are proud to support. On Saturday, the team at Digital Extremes announced their $100k CAD donation to AbleGamers, as well as promises of ongoing support for the disability community. These funds change lives. They enable friendships, fun, and connection that would be impossible without assistive technology and the support of experts. Thank you again the Digital Extremes and everyone who has supported the mission of accessible gaming for all. If you are considering making a donation, consider donating to AbleGamers. Together, we are changing lives through the power of play. https://lnkd.in/egPnvvBU