SPECIAL REPORT
Once he had a way of playing games, that helped him
make friends Dr Mick Donegan, founder and CEO, SpecialEff ect
Fun and games SpecialEff ect don’t just provide custom gaming tech. They also visit people to learn about their individual needs, then match or modify technology to create personalised gaming setups and follow up with ongoing support – all free of charge. As well as helping
hundreds of individuals across the UK each year, the charity also off ers expertise to a growing number of game makers, ensuring that their games can be enjoyed by players with disabilities.
EVERYONE DESERVES TO PLAY
G £220,000
raised so far… Since August 2016, GAME have raised hundreds of thousands to support SpecialEff ect’s work.
How SpecialEff ect are helping disabled players get back in the game younger brother,” says Mick, “and one
aming is a social activity now, explains Mick Donegan, founder and CEO of gaming charity
SpecialEff ect. “It’s something that you can do with friends or anyone on the planet, so if you miss out on that, you’re in eff ect more isolated than you were ten years ago.”
Mick, a former deputy headteacher, formed SpecialEff ect in 2007 to help disabled children
gain access to videogames through bespoke controllers.
One such child is 12-year-old Arlo
(above), who has cerebral palsy. SpecialEff ect have been working with him since he was seven. “He’s got a
of the reasons for his mum asking for help was that when Arlo invited friends back to play, the friends would often go out in the garden to play with his brother instead. Once Arlo had a way of playing games, that helped his ability to play with friends and to make new ones.”
Playing ball Bill Donegan, Mick’s son
and project manager at SpecialEff ect, explains that the main game Arlo wanted to play was FIFA. So the charity
repurposed two large buttons that are
sometimes used to control wheelchairs, then combined them with a special
44 Winter 2018
GAME.CO.UK
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