ES Gaming Game4Access Streamathon Planned to Highlight Inclusive, Accessible Gaming on International Day of Persons with Disabilities

CHICAGO, Nov. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — There is a new player in the gaming community aimed at creating inclusive, accessible spaces for an underserved population – disabled gamers. Easterseals, the nation’s leading nonprofit provider of disability services and supports, has announced ES Gaming, which exists to create a new standard for equity, inclusion, and access among all disabled gamers and amplifies disabled voices and accessible innovations to deliver a more inclusive space in an ever-evolving industry.

While disability awareness and accessibility in gaming has risen to become a priority for many companies and developers, there are still barriers for gamers with disabilities. Online communities can be exclusionary for disabled gamers, where they feel unwelcome and often bullied out of spaces. “It took me a while to find a gaming community that was both accessible and accepting,” says Erin Hawley, Digital Content Producer for Easterseals and gaming accessibility consultant. “I love having the opportunity to help others find that space. Community gaming has such a positive impact on mental health by combating isolation, and I want others to know there is a place for them to exist as who they are without judgement.”

While strides have been made in the industry toward inclusion, there is still not…