Team Xbox Celebrates Disability Pride Month

Team Xbox is celebrating players with disabilities, community members and creators in the month of July. We recognize that more than 400,000,000 video gamers have disabilities around the world. This community is making Team Xbox and the broader gaming sector inclusive.

Disability Pride is very important to me, not just because I’m a program manager on the Gaming Accessibility Team but because I have a disability myself. Many people are able-bodied. wouldn’tYou might not think that I am disabled at first. In fact, I didn’t know I had disabilities until I was in my 20’s when I was diagnosed as being neurodiverse. Since I was young, I’ve had Obsessive Compulsive and Sensory processing disorders. And, as the years have gone by, I’ve acquired new disabilities due to illness, injury, and trauma. As well as chronic pain and hearing loss due to post-traumatic disorder, I also suffer from anxiety and depression.

The reason I share all of this is that if you aren’t already dealing with your own disabilities, chances are very good that someone close to you is. It’s estimated that at least 15% of the world’s population has some form of disability, and the vast majority of those are invisible.

We encourage all gamers to spend this month recognizing and celebrating the diverse community of players who have disabilities. You can also think about people you know who may be part the community. What could you do to help them? One way to help the disabled community is by learning about the tools and technology they use. Take our Gaming Accessibility Fundamentals free learning path to get started. If you’re an Xbox Ambassador consider the Xbox Ambassador Accessibility Explorer Path. This is a gamified learning experience which allows Xbox Ambassadors learn about accessibility and try new features in PC or console gaming.

As for all of us at Xbox, a source of pride is being able to work to ensure our industry is welcoming of players of all abilities and backgrounds, celebrating and partnering with the Gaming & Disability Community, and investing in solutions to help ensure everyone can play. When everyone is playing, then we are all winners.

Xbox supports the Disability community in celebrating Disability Pride Month. Xbox helps to create a gaming environment where all players feel heard, supported, and included in ways that bring them joy.

We are proud to highlight stories and experiences from members of the Gaming & Disability community, including what Disability Pride means to them. Below, you can read their own words.

MikeTheQuad

He/Him

Disability Pride Month takes place in July. Disability Pride is a personal thing.
Disability Pride means accepting all forms of disability. It’s the celebration of all people who have a disability, and not the fact we are proud of our disability, but we are proud of overcoming all the obstacles we face on a daily basis.

How do you “show” or “live” your pride?
Disability Pride shows in my everyday life. I am a problem-solver. People with disabilities are forced to adjust to the world around them because it is not accessible. Every day, I face these challenges and do not let anything hold me back from my goals.

What is the best way to get in touch with you? You can learn more about this by clicking here. Gaming You can also use You can also find out more about us on our website. The following are some of the ways to get in touch with us: The following are some examples of how to use The following are some of the ways to get in touch with us. Then, you can enjoy the pride of your life.?
I am most proud of my disability when playing games. My handle “MikeTheQuad” was the name I chose because it immediately draws attention to my disability as a quadriplegic. I’ve actively broken down barriers by showing how I play through my gaming content,  in turn inspiring others that they can not only game if they have a disability, but they can use that mentality in everyday life.

Queerlybee

They/them

Disability Pride Month takes place in July. Disability Pride is a personal thing.

Disability Pride is a chance for disabled people, who have been historically shunned and ostracized, to show their pride and be proud of themselves and the community they belong to. Oftentimes, abled people associate disability with a life that is lesser than or not worth living, saying things like “Oh I don’t know how you do that, I could never live like that,” but the reality is that we make the most out of our situation and you would too if you were in our shoes. And it’s important to remember that disability is the only marginalized community that anyone could become a part of at any moment and when/if that happens to you, due to old age, injury or sickness, you’ll be grateful for this community of support we’ve built that will help you when the government/society often fails to do so.

How do you “show” or “live” your pride?

It is important to me that I am open and honest about my disability and my experiences as a content creator who is disabled. I believe this helps other people feel less isolated and can help them open up and share their own experiences, which can heal. In order to create a community that is safe for the disabled, neurodivergents and their families during this time of pandemic and feeling like we have been left behind by everyone else, I curate an area dedicated to them.

What is the best way to get in touch with you? You can learn more about this by clicking here. Gaming You can also find out more about us on our website. The following are some of the ways to get in touch with us: The following are some examples of how to use The following are some of the ways to get in touch with us. pride?

As a person with a disability, gaming has given me a means to earn money and connect with others. Through simulation games, I’m able to be a storyteller and share both queer and disabled stories that we don’t always see in the media. Seeing other creators talk about the importance of accessibility in games and gaming spaces has inspired me to make it a pillar of my own space… Accessibility for some benefits all, so I highly encourage other creators, game developers and others to talk to disabled gamers and uplift our voices so we can make sure gaming is for everyone!

Shawn Games

He/Him

Disability Pride Month takes place in July. Disability Pride is a personal thing.

Without knowing, I was disabled from speech and language for the entire duration of my adult life. In addition, fibromyalgia has affected me for more than 50% of that time. Undiagnosed for 14 years, I received a fibromyalgia diagnosis in this year. This has given me the opportunity to improve my quality of life and access care. Disability Pride is a way for me to show off my hidden disabilities, which still impact me daily.

How do you “show” or “live” your pride?

To educate others about the experience I had, and to ensure they do not wait as long for treatment as I did.

In what ways has gaming allowed you to express your pride and self-esteem? Characters, stories or experiences you’ve had with other creators or your community have positively affected you.

Queerlybee was a game creator who is disabled. Her voice helped me share my experiences. It is because of them that I have become as vocal and outspoken as I am. Having others in the space being vocal about their lived experiences allows more people to know that they aren’t alone in the world and that they also can share their stories. I know we’ll see more diversity in characters in years to come and I am excited to champion them.

DeafGamersTV

He/Him

Disability Pride Month takes place in July. Disability Pride is a personal thing.

Disability pride is about celebrating the fact that you are not hidden in society’s shadow. As everyone else, we are also out there.

How do you “show” or “live” your pride?

I show that I’m proud of being Deaf. I’m proud of my American Sign Language as a culture and language. It is not necessary to be scared. Enjoy what makes you happy.

In what ways has gaming allowed you to express your pride and self-esteem? What characters, stories or interactions with fellow creators and your community have you positively impacted?

Gaming lets me show that I can’t be backed down by barriers. It allows me to speak up on how to be inclusive & allow gamers with disabilities to be invited to play games.

To learn more about the above Gaming & Disability community members, who earlier this year joined the first Xbox Next Level (XNL) Creator Program, a six-week accelerator designed to help gaming streamers from underrepresented communities, click here.

Xbox Updates

Xbox wants everyone to be able enjoy the fun, joy, creativity, and connection of gaming. It is our mission to ensure that this happens. The Xbox Accessibility Team is excited to share some exciting updates for Disability Pride Month. These are part of the Xbox Accessibility mission, to enable gamers to enjoy the joys, connection, creativity and fun that gaming brings. Included are:

New Xbox Adaptive Controller User Guide

The Xbox Adaptive Controller User Guide was launched by support.xbox.com on the 28th of June. Consisting of new instructional videos, resources, and links to external peripheral options, the guide serves as a comprehensive “one-stop-shop” focused on helping players with disabilities, their family members, and anyone else new to gaming or Xbox learn about what the Xbox Adaptive controller is and how to use it.

Whether you’re completely new to using the Xbox Adaptive Controller and want to check out the “getting started” page (video above), or have the basics of the controller covered and want to explore the “advanced functionalities” page that discusses lesser-known adaptive controller functions like shift mode, un-mapping, action remapping, and more, the guide has you covered!

Below you will find the complete Xbox Adaptive Controller user guide, including:

The 3D printed, accessible gaming peripherals

Xbox’s team has been impressed by the creativeness of the makers community. This is a group made up of individuals who are innovative and nonprofit organizations. They identify problems, and then design solutions.

In celebration of this impressive work, we’ve partnered with a couple makers, including Adam Breece and Caleb Kraft, to curate a list of some of our favorite 3D-printed peripherals, which can be found in a new article on Xbox’s accessibility support pages. Check out our resources if you own a 3D Printer and would like to create some for yourself or send your design to 3D Print Vendors.

Xbox Brazil releases glossary of terms for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deaf-Blind Players

It’s common for gamers to use different terms while they play, whether it’s drifting in Forza Horizon or anchoring the ship in Sea of Thieves. Xbox Brazil announced a partnership with Streamer, Content Creator and Leading Brazilian Figure in Game Accessibility, In May. Jessyka “Suuhgetsu,” to create a glossary of gaming terms commonly signed by deaf and hard of hearing players (like “drift” or “Xbox”). These expressions, also known as “Libras” (the short term for Brazilian Sign Language), were featured on Xbox Brazil’s official YouTube channel. The video below explains Forza Horizon 5, and you can find the complete glossary on Xbox Wire.

We are thrilled that Team Xbox will be celebrating and honoring Disability Pride Month. Every day we work to celebrate and support the Disability Community. Stay tuned for more announcements in the fall.