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How Pokémon Go is creating a barrier for gamers with disabilities
How Pokémon Go is creating a barrier for gamers with disabilities
There is no viral phenomenon that's brought people together quite like Pokémon Go. The augmented reality gaming app has taken the internet and world by storm, as people are desperate to catch and collect the characters, making friends and getting fit along the way.
I'm a huge fan of Pokemon Go and all the good things it's doing for the world. But I've been thinking a lot about this as well--that it's not set up to be played by anyone with mobility issues. I've heard of some people getting Uber/Lyft rides to and from different locations to catch Pokemon and train at gyms. But that can also be expensive.
Does anyone have any solutions? Ideas for how the game could be played by EVERYONE, regardless of mobility? Is there a way we could contact the creators of the game with our ideas? A lot of the solutions I can come up with take away the great things about the game--the community that's found by going out to meet with others in different places.




I'm not sure this is even a fair onus to put on them. Not every game can be accessible to every person in every way. Football, baseball, soccer, etc., also aren't friendly to people with mobility issues.
This game is doing a HUGE amount of good in getting people who aren't normally very active to get up and move, people who have social anxiety or depression or whatever else to be social and talk with other people, and more.
Not everything in the world can fix everyone's problems. Can we just celebrate how many people are being helped by something rather than complaining that it doesn't help everyone?
The article specifically discusses that disability access is important BECAUSE the game is a huge success. People with disabilities need support and encouragement for physical fitness at least as much as those without disabilities. And computer-mediated activities are easy to expand and adjust, so an add-on of accessibility features is a feasible request.
I do see that. And I'm a HUGE fan of Pokemon Go. I'm usually the first to defend it against complaints, citing its power to get people connected and out of their houses, and as a tool to help with anxiety and depression. I'm just wondering how it can be expanded to be even MORE helpful.