Tangible Worth in Virtual Worlds: Leveraging Video Games for Play, Empowerment, and Community

Video games have become a mainstream form of entertainment that are played regularly by many around the world, including a large number of youth with disabilities (YwD). Video games’ popular presence in our society has created exciting new opportunities for student learning that educators who work with YwD can leverage for both skill acquisition and increased social interactions. This is especially true given that screens have become one of the most consistent and accessible ways of maintaining human contact, despite physical distances, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the isolation that accompanied it. This paper is specifically focused on the video game play of transition-aged YwD, and the social skill, leisure play, and social connection benefits that exist for them when engaging in game play in virtual spaces. The benefits of including video game play in transition planning and recommendations for educators who wish to incorporate it into their practice are included.