“It’s looking at abilities, not disabilities”
Tuesday, March 24th, 2026
A fascinating interview with our Founder and CEO Dr Mick Donegan is now available on the latest episode of the Good Game Club podcast.
Mick explains how accessible technology is transforming lives by reconnecting players with friends, family and everyday social experiences. He also details how SpecialEffect are a “catalyst for change,” helping the global games industry to embrace accessibility, with companies such as Xbox and PlayStation introducing adaptive controllers and more inclusive game design in recent years. “I like to think that we’re just part of this general move to be as inclusive as possible,” he says.
Mick founded SpecialEffect after years working with children with physical disabilities and discovering that many were excluded from a major part of modern childhood: playing video games with siblings and friends. “These children were missing out socially,” he says. “They were missing out on the opportunity to learn. They were missing out on the opportunity to face challenges, to solve problems.” SpecialEffect now works with people around the world to create personalised gaming set-ups tailored to each player’s abilities. “It’s looking at the person, looking at their abilities and not at their disabilities; it’s not what they can’t do, but what they can do.”
“This is a global challenge. There’s over a billion people with disabilities across the planet, and a significant number of those have physical disabilities.”
Good Game Club builds on the success of Jude Ower and Mathias Norvig’s bestselling book Gaming for Good, bringing global voices together to explore how games can be a positive force for people and the planet. The podcast is supported by a strategic partnership with Tencent – together, they share the ambition to highlight the positive impact that gameplay can have on individuals and communities.