Special Effect

SpecialEffect is a charity that puts fun and inclusion back into the lives of people with physical disabilities by helping them to play video games. By using technology ranging from modified joypads to eye-control, they’re finding a way for people to play to the very best of their abilities.

But they’re not just doing it for fun. By levelling the playing field, they’re bringing families and friends together and having a profoundly positive impact on therapy, confidence and quality of life.

At any one time the charity is helping hundreds of people on an individual and ongoing basis across the UK. They also have an increasing global influence via online support to individuals and through collaboration with an increasing number of hardware and software developers.

Everyone they help has different physical abilities - there’s no one-size-fits all solution - so the charity’s teams of specialist games technologists and therapists mix, modify, match and create gaming setups that are customised to exactly meet the person’s abilities.

Their doors are open to everyone, including accident victims, service personnel with combat injuries, people with congenital and progressive conditions and stroke patients.

The charity doesn’t sell any equipment and they don’t charge for their services, so there are no barriers for anyone asking for their help.