She has always loved gaming - AbleGamers Impact

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Bella

A photo of Bella, she has short brown hair and is wearing a black Hurley sweatshirt and she has blue painted nails. She is sitting and her new adaptive gaming set up is in front of her.

“Bella has always loved gaming,” shared her mom. “After being diagnosed with cancer, it was one of the only things that she could do since she was in the hospital a lot and had a lot of downtime. Due to her cancer and treatment, it made Bella very weak and fatigued, and she was no longer able to play the games she loved. Since being isolated and not able to go to school, Bella’s entertainment and joy came from playing video games.”

While at Texas Children’s Hospital, Bella was introduced to adaptive gaming. Video games are increasingly utilized in hospitals to enhance patient care and well-being. Playing video games gives hospitalized children a sense of normalcy, which is very important during a challenging medical journey. Video games provide emotional support and are effective distractors, reducing anxiety and stress in children.

Aaron, a Peer Counselor at AbleGamers, collaborated with Bella’s therapist at Texas Children’s Hospital to assemble Bella’s customized adaptive gaming setup. Additionally, the therapist secured her switches onto a pegboard using zip ties, ensuring the wires were neatly managed and Bella could easily access and maintain the positioning of her switches.

“Everyone was amazing,” Bella said. “I am able to play games longer with my friends and I am looking forward to playing Fortnite with them.”

Playing video games is a valuable social activity that helps reduce social isolation by connecting people across distances and diverse backgrounds. Through multiplayer games, online communities, and cooperative gameplay, individuals can interact, collaborate, and build friendships. These virtual interactions provide a sense of belonging and support, fostering meaningful connections that transcend physical barriers. By engaging in shared gaming experiences, players can combat loneliness and create a supportive social network, making video games a powerful tool for enhancing social well-being. Learn more about what we do, or help continue our crucial work by making a monetary donation or purchasing something from our shop!

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AbleGamers Peer Counselors work one-on-one with each and every person. This is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but a tailored experience to enable joy in someone’s life. Donate today to help us continue enabling play for people with disabilities.