Many of us love playing games, puzzles, and activity apps to help us relax and unwind. But how easy are these for disabled people to use? Many games require two hands and the use of multiple buttons, which is difficult for those who have dexterity issues. Some have no audio or the ability to magnify, making them tricky for blind people. And others are too complex if you have learning disabilities. Research has found 10 accessible, fun games and activity apps for people of all abilities. The list includes apps for Apple and Android devices, but they can be tried out on iPhones too. The Waveband app allows you to play musical instruments by moving your Apple device, such as your Apple Watch. You can make music by moving the device up and down, side to side, and twisting. It is great fun and a good source of exercise. It’s a suitable app for people who have some form of movement, are blind or visually impaired, and, basically, anyone who loves to have a dance. The app is free to download and includes multiple instruments, such as piano, drums, guitar, and tambourine. Bubble Shooter Game is an engaging and colourful app designed to be accessible for players with various disabilities. This addictive puzzle game involves aiming, shooting, and popping bubbles of the same colour to clear the board and advance to the next level. Bubble Shooter is a fun game that everyone can enjoy. You only need to tap the screen to shoot the bubbles, so it’s great for people who have trouble moving their hands a lot. The bright colours help people who don’t see well tell the bubbles apart. Plus, the game makes sounds when you do things, so people who can’t see well can play and have fun too. Bubble Shooter Game is free to download and comes with hundreds of levels, each presenting a new challenge. The app includes an option to purchase additional features, such as extra lives and power-ups, to enhance the gaming experience. Available on both iOS and Android platforms, as well as in a browser version, it’s a fun and accessible game for everyone who loves a good puzzle.
Solitaire offers an inclusive Solitaire experience catering to disabled people, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to enjoy this classic card game. Recognizing the diverse needs of its players, the platform provides options to customize cards with large numbers and fonts, making the game more accessible for those with visual impairments. The website features various Solitaire games, each designed with accessibility in mind. Players can enjoy traditional gameplay with enhanced features such as audio cues and customizable colour schemes to accommodate different visual preferences. Whether opting for high contrast settings or choosing ‘large print’ options for easier card identification, Solitaired.com aims to create a welcoming environment for all players. Available for free with no need for in-app purchases, Solitaired.com is a browser-based platform, making it easily accessible without the need to download any apps. This commitment to accessibility and user-friendly design makes Solitaired.com a favoured destination for those seeking an enjoyable Solitaire experience tailored to their needs, ensuring a fun and engaging gameplay for players with disabilities. Audio Game Hub is designed for people who are blind or visually impaired. With it, you won’t need the accessibility features on your device as there is a voiceover and inverted colour feature already available on the app. There are 10 games including casino, archery, and memory skills.
Additional games are due to be released soon. Every game has audio descriptions throughout and different sound effects to identify colours, animals, numbers, and obstacles. Also, you can choose to have the screen with black text on a white background, white text on a black background, or in ‘blind mode’, where the screen is black. The app is free to download from the iTunes App Store and has numerous in-app purchases available to gain more coins, and additional levels and to skip adverts. Prices are in American dollars ($). There is also a version on Google Play for Android. The Switch Accessible Mazes app is designed for people who use a switch controller, an ergonomically designed mouse with a V-shaped and four-way scrolling dish. It can be accessed with two switches using step-scanning or one switch with auto-scanning. Multiple mazes are completed by moving an arrow or car through the maze. The game can also be played on a touchscreen. There is a free app with three practice mazes available. The full set of mazes costs £15.99 or separately cost £7.99 each on the App Store. Colour Therapy is a colouring book app with a wide variety of pictures, from animals to people, and places to patterns, plus much more. There are also seasonal pictures, including Christmas, Easter and Halloween. There are thousands of colours to use, both solid and granite. Completed pictures can be published on the app, saved to your photos, and shared on social media. This app is really good for those with dexterity issues and those who struggle using a traditional colouring book and pens. It is also good for people with visual impairments as they can zoom in on the picture using the zoom function from the accessibility settings on your device. It is also a great therapeutic tool for those with stress, anxiety, and depression. See Me Draw is a drawing game, based on dot-to-dot. It is aimed at people with learning disabilities and is a great form of entertainment and development. When you touch a red dot, it begins to draw a picture. A green dot will then move between each dot, which you follow to complete the picture. Once all the dots are connected, the picture will be revealed. Moodfit is an emotional tool to help people suffering from stress, depression, and anxiety to improve their mood. The app lets you track your mood, create daily goals, and learn mindfulness techniques. It is free to download but requires you to create an account to log in. You can use Zoom and voiceover functions on this app too. Pet Rescue Saga is a puzzle game created by King, the same company that created the world-famous Candy Crush. The aim of the game is simple – rescue the pets! The graphics are bold, clear, and bright, and the zoom function can be used for those with visual impairments. It’s also great for those who only have the use of one arm. The app is free and available on iTunes and Google Play. The Jigsaw app has a wide selection of animal and landscape jigsaw puzzles. With each puzzle, you can decide the difficulty by changing the number of pieces, from 84 small pieces to 4 large ones. As well as making it as hard or simple as you want, choosing a larger piece is also useful for those with visual impairments. Moreover, correct pieces snap together, indicating that they’re the right fit, which is beneficial for people with limited motor skills.
Source: Disability Horizons