Accessible Play: Imagining the Future of Inclusive Gaming

Time: Oct. 1, 2026, 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Location: (time and location T.B.D.)

Games are often compared with dreams, as they offer their players a mechanism to explore fantastical spaces and gain abilities and skills to which they might not otherwise have access in their everyday lives. But as freeing as games may initially appear to be, they also impose limitations on their players through their interfaces and control mechanisms. Players with disabilities have historically been excluded at the level of design, as barriers to entry can impede or even outright prevent players from participating in a game.

Co-organized by faculty in English and the School of Education, this interactive lecture features victoria l. braegger (Missouri University of Science and Technology) and Brian A. Smith (Columbia University), whose research focuses on accessible and inclusive game design. They will explore how games can both empower and exclude players, highlighting the importance of designing more accessible gaming experiences. The session combines a brief presentation with moderated discussion, inviting attendees to consider the future of inclusive game design.