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Growing Up with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Games: Case Study on the Accessible Gameplay Experiences of the Young Players with CP and Their Families through the Lens of Developmental Task Perspective

Published: 04 October 2023 Publication History

Abstract

Understanding the experiences of players with disabilities is a key research issue in game accessibility. However, less is known about the values that young players experience from games, particularly in relation to their situational context as adolescents and young adults with disabilities. We explore how the values of accessible gaming are created in players’ lives by analyzing interviews with five players with cerebral palsy (CP) (age range 13–25 years) and their parents through the lens of developmental tasks theory. Using thematic analysis, we discovered three themes that illustrated how video games’ roles changed according to their life stages: “Establishing Healthy Self in Family”, “Navigating Peer Culture”, and “Preparing Adult Life”. Our results indicated that young players with CP made active decisions in their life and developed supportive relationships from playing accessible games. The changes in their desired developmental task and social contexts influenced the values they found in games. We discuss video games as a sociocultural resource that assists young players with CP to attain the developmental tasks they desire and achieve social inclusion. We conclude with design insights for creating more inclusive gameplay experiences for young players with CP.

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  1. Growing Up with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and Games: Case Study on the Accessible Gameplay Experiences of the Young Players with CP and Their Families through the Lens of Developmental Task Perspective

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        cover image Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction
        Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction  Volume 7, Issue CHI PLAY
        November 2023
        1360 pages
        EISSN:2573-0142
        DOI:10.1145/3554313
        Issue’s Table of Contents
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        Published: 04 October 2023
        Published in PACMHCI Volume 7, Issue CHI PLAY

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        Author Tags

        1. cerebral palsy
        2. developmental task
        3. game accessibility
        4. player experience
        5. players with disability
        6. qualitative study

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