“You can be whoever you want!”
Wednesday, February 18th, 2026
Above: SpecialEffect therapist Nomi Gallagher (l) connecting button switches to an Xbox Adaptive Controller, part of Sasha’s gaming setup.
“Gaming is an expression of freedom and release, and you can be whoever you want. One minute you could be a superhero, a spy, anything, it’s, it’s wonderful.”
It was fantastic to have the opportunity to visit Sasha recently and catch up with her gaming journey. Our specialist assessment team have been working alongside her for over five years now, helping her to play a wide range of games including Tekken, Spyro the Dragon, Devil May Cry and, most recently, 2KXO and Pokemon.
Sasha’s cerebral palsy affects her legs and arms, especially her right arm. “My right hand doesn’t react to the usual things and it’s kind of got a mind of its own.” She says. “When I was growing up, I was never able to game by myself but thanks to SpecialEffect, I can do it – and it’s amazing.”
The accessible gaming setup that our team created for her has been tweaked over the years to allow her to play new games to the best of her abilities. “The setup I have now is (based around) an Xbox Adaptive Controller,” she explains. “I also have a chunky joystick, but the biggest part for me, for my right hand to join in, is the various buttons in different sizes where I don’t have to put much pressure on to play.”
Her enthusiasm for games is infectious. “Literally, I look forward to it so much every day. It’s the highlight of my day. It’s not just the escapism element of it – the social aspect that it brings, a lot of people don’t realise how great that can be because you can speak to people all over the world – the friendships, the bonds.”
“It’s been like a beacon in darkness, where it’s something to help me get through the days and enjoy without worrying. It gives me independence, and it doesn’t make me feel different to anyone else.”
We simply wouldn’t be able to help Sasha without your fundraising support that keeps all our services and resources free of charge. Thank you – you’re truly making a life-changing difference!
Are you a gamer? Join us for GameBlast26 over the weekend of 27 Feb and help us transform lives across the world!