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UK support and funding
You do not have to work out an accessible gaming set-up alone. Several UK charities offer free, practical help, from loaning adapted controllers to explaining settings over the phone, and both major console makers publish accessibility information and support routes. This page explains who does what, and which to contact first.
Each organisation’s website address is listed in the sources at the end of this page.
If the problem is physical, such as reaching buttons, holding a pad or using triggers, SpecialEffect is usually the first call for UK players. The charity, based in Oxfordshire, helps physically disabled people play games using modified controllers, switches and eye-tracking. It states that it does not charge for its support and does not sell anything.
Its projects include EyeMine, which lets people play Minecraft using eye control, a collection of free web-based eye-gaze games, and StarGaze, which supports people in hospital who rely on eye gaze. It also publishes GameAccess, a resource on game accessibility, and DevKit for developers. To ask for help, phone 01608 810055 or email [email protected] and describe the player's situation and the games they want to play.
Before you call, it helps to note which console or PC the player uses, which body movements are reliable (for example, one thumb, a head movement or eye gaze) and how long they can play comfortably. Our motor access guide has a checklist you can print and take into that conversation.
AbleGamers is often mentioned in articles about accessible gaming. It is a US charity, registered with the IRS, whose mission is to use games to combat social isolation for people with disabilities. It also runs Accessible Player Experiences (APX), a framework that helps developers design accessible games.
Its website does not set out which programmes are open to people outside the US, so UK players should treat it mainly as a source of information and community, and turn to UK organisations such as SpecialEffect for practical, in-person support. If you want to contact AbleGamers about a specific programme, check its site for current eligibility.
Gaming problems are sometimes part of a bigger picture. If a player has recently lost sight, the RNIB Helpline offers information and support to blind and partially sighted people and their families, and RNIB publishes guidance on computer gaming and accessible technology. Current helpline details are on RNIB's website.
RNID supports people who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. Its information line is 0808 808 0123 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm), it accepts texts on 07360 268 988, Relay UK users can dial 18001 0808 808 0123, and BSL users can arrange a free video call through Convo. RNID also offers a short free online hearing check. For any concerns about hearing or tinnitus, the NHS is the right place for a medical assessment.
Scope's free helpline (0808 800 3333, Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm) covers benefits, equipment, education, social care and other everyday questions, and its online community lets disabled people and families share experience. AbilityNet offers free technology help by phone (0300 180 0028, weekdays 9am to 5pm) and through more than 450 DBS-checked volunteers who can visit at home, which can be helpful for setting up a PC, accessibility software or a console.
Microsoft runs a Disability Answer Desk for customers with disabilities. It covers Xbox and adaptive accessories as well as Windows and Office, and UK customers can call 0800 026 0584. Chat and Be My Eyes video support are also offered during set hours, which Microsoft lists on its page. Xbox's accessibility hub describes the Xbox Adaptive Controller, Controller Assist (two controllers acting as one), Narrator, Magnifier, colour filters and speech-to-text for chat; our Xbox settings guide walks through them.
Sony's PlayStation accessibility hub explains PS5 features such as Screen Reader, zoom, colour correction, closed captions, custom button assignments and chat transcription, and introduces the Access controller. It links to the general PlayStation support hub rather than a separate disability line. See our PS5 settings guide and Access controller guide for step-by-step help.
Both the PlayStation Store and the Xbox Store now show accessibility tags on many game pages, grouped into areas such as visuals, audio, controls and gameplay. These are supplied by publishers, so they are a useful starting point but not a promise: a tag tells you a feature exists, not how well it suits a particular player.
The Family Gaming Database, a UK-based resource, lets you search by around 150 accessibility data points alongside age rating, system, genre and cost. The Game Accessibility Guidelines, maintained since 2012, describe good practice in plain terms, which can help you put a name to what a game is missing when you contact a publisher. Our own game profiles summarise what each publisher has documented, and mark anything not documented as unknown.
Accessible gaming kit can be expensive, so ask about loans and grants before buying. SpecialEffect provides its support free of charge. Family Fund offers grants to low-income families raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; eligibility depends on household income and the level of support the child needs, so check its criteria and what grants can be used for on its website. Scope's helpline can also point you towards benefits and other sources of funding.
When you speak to any organisation, a short written summary of the player's needs, current set-up and favourite games saves time. If you have questions about this site, see our how we work page.
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