Gaming vs. Isolation

For many people, gaming appears to be a solo endeavour. But with online gaming on the rise it has become a way to connect and communicate with people from all walks of life, from across the globe. For those of us who live able-bodied lives, we experience inter-human connection every day—we even have the luxury of complaining about having too much. 

For those with disabilities, life can look very different. Even seemingly basic issues such as wheelchair access prevents people from moving around the world as we do. With all these limitations to connecting with people, feelings of isolation are a common experience in that they are 51% more likely to be socially isolated than their able-bodied peers. What if a world where there are no limits could exist to explore freely? Well, for many, online gaming offers just this. 

Time spent online can offer a whole host of benefits to all of us when done right. It is a chance for them to meet people, play, learn and to explore more independently. Online gaming can play a huge role in reducing feelings of isolation by enabling disabled individuals to connect with others globally. These interactions can lead to friendships and a sense of community—a core human need. 

Many games offer customizable controls and accessibility options, such as voice commands, adapted controllers, or the ability to adjust visual and auditory settings. This inclusivity allows individuals with various disabilities to participate.  Some games are designed specifically for rehabilitation purposes, helping players improve motor skills, balance, and coordination. Virtual reality (VR) games, for instance, can be used in physical therapy to make exercises more engaging. These technologies can be tailored to specific needs, providing immersive experiences that can be both entertaining and therapeutic. Games as we know all too well can help improve cognitive functions, such as problem-solving, strategic thinking, and hand-eye coordination. But beyond this they can also provide a safe environment to practice social and communication skills which for some may not manifest in speech or even written text. 

In the virtual world, physical limitations are often irrelevant. This can level the playing field, allowing disabled gamers to compete and collaborate with others on equal terms. While life online may not include tasks as simple as walking to the store to buy their groceries, in games they can run, fly, swim to get what they need to complete tasks, or perhaps more importantly, whatever they want to spark joy. Success in gaming is an area we often talk about. In young people, rewards can help provide focus and help them to reach goals that might otherwise feel too large or overwhelming by breaking them down into smaller actions. In others, it can boost confidence and provide a sense of achievement in an activity that can be done independently, enhancing the sense of autonomy.

Hand in hand with creating moments of autonomy, gaming offers a rich and diverse network of communities. Online communities can offer emotional support and a sense of belonging. Many disabled gamers find solace in these communities, where they can share experiences and advice related to both gaming and personal challenges.

By creating inclusive and accessible gaming environments, the gaming industry can continue to provide valuable opportunities for disabled individuals. AbleGamers has been creating opportunities that enable play in order to combat social isolation for the past 20 years. They work to ensure that people with disabilities have rich well rounded lives that let them be their best selves and to have something to look forward to. 

In the WoU game development team we’re working to make our game as inclusive and as accessible as we can. Including languages from around the globe and a unified way for inter-player communication. In WoU, players cannot communicate via text or audio, but instead use a universal system of emojis and hand gestures plus text-to-voice automations with the guide, NOLA, offers visually impaired players, or players with reading difficulties a helping hand. On top of this, we have made it possible to play along with a keyboard and mouse or console controller, and players can tailor colors and sounds to their personal needs so every gamer feels comfortable as they explore. 

As we have found the benefits of rewards to be a key driver in keeping players feeling most of our quests have no time limit. This means players can take more time to solve puzzles and won’t feel frustrated or disheartened.

But we didn’t stop there. 

NOLA our guide offers hints as support and has been programmed for positive reinforcement only. If players struggle to complete quests and games there’s plenty of resources scattered throughout the game to keep them motivated and exploring for longer. 

While we’re proud of the work we’ve done to get this far, through the years we hope to develop even further into the future of accessible gaming.