Many video game developers are starting to understand that adding accessibility features broadens the fanbase to their games. From AAA games to indie classics, more and more video games include features that make them more accessible. Some of the best examples include: 

• Lauded as one of the most accessible games ever made, The Last of Us: Part Two has over 60 accessibility features for people with low or no vision, low or no hearing, and those with mobility impairments. Simple presets are available on the starting screen with almost infinite ways to customize for any disability. It even has features to assist people who are colorblind or who get motion sickness. These features are especially impressive considering the survivor horror and intense combat featured in the game. 
• The Vale: Shadow of the Crown is an entirely audio-based game in which the main character, who is blind from birth, battles monsters, delves dungeons, and explores new lands. This game is a challenging and fun experience for blind and sighted players alike as an almost completely auditory experience. 
• The need for speed is universal for all! And with the accessibility features in Forza Motorsport (2023), more folks can enjoy the joys of going fast. Accessibility features include dozens of difficulty aspects that can be toggled on or off depending on the need of the player, screen narration for menus, audio descriptions, blind driving assists, and more. You can find the accessibility features here to see if it’s a good fit for your loved one. 
• Celeste, a notoriously difficult yet adorable 2D platform game, has an “Assist Mode”. This lets players bypass especially difficult sections of the game, which can be very helpful for people who have trouble with precision who still want to enjoy the game’s thought-provoking story. 

For some people with motor disabilities like multiple sclerosis or arthritis, holding a controller for long periods of time can be difficult or impossible. Luckily, there are solutions! This can be an especially thoughtful gift for someone who has enjoyed video games in the past, but because of worsening symptoms, may not be able to enjoy them “out-of-the-box” right now. These can also be great options for someone who is curious about video games but doesn’t think they can access them. 

• Simple alterations can be made to existing controllers to help people who have fine motor difficulty, which can be a thoughtful and cost-effective gift. There are many 3D-printed options out there as well. Look up the controller for the system that you’re interested in + “accessibility modification” or “3D-printed accessible” and you should be able to find plenty of options or next steps in your search. 
• For certain people, like those who are quadriplegics, holding a game controller may be simply impossible. Video games are still available for them, too! Specialized controllers are out there that use “sip and puff” technology, meaning that you only need your mouth to play! These can be pretty expensive, but they make a great special occasion gift. 
• We can’t leave out PC gamers! If the gamer you’re buying for plays games on a laptop or desktop, there are plenty of assistive options for them too. There are adaptive keyboards and mice for any kind of disability, from tremors to visual impairments and more. Bonus—having a specialized keyboard or mouse might help them at work, too! (P.S.: Did you know that we do research on how to help people with disabilities at work?)
• If you’re not sure about what game or controller to get a gamer on your list, but you want to help them with their hobby, you can go for gifts that can help them stay comfortable while doing so. For example, if your gamer has arthritis, you can get them compression gloves, warming cream, or ergonomic pillows for their wrists. 

For many of us, making and sharing food is how we express love. The precise and repetitive motions needed to create certain dishes can be a huge obstacle for some people with disabilities. Fortunately, there are all kinds of culinary gadgets at all kinds of price points that can help your favorite chef in the kitchen. 

• Chopping is one of the bigger obstacles, but it also has some of the best AT options. If your chef struggles with precisely chopping things like chives or green onions to finish a dish, kitchen scissors or herb scissors make the job a lot easier. 
• You can also get them an adaptive cutting board if they have a hard time keeping food in one spot to chop—this can also help folks who only have one arm, or are missing some digits. 
• A rocker knife has the dual purpose of minimizing the need to hold on to a knife tightly to chop, while also being very fun to use. 
• Even if your chef has used chopsticks their whole life, chopstick helpers make it easier to use chopsticks, or worry less about gripping chopsticks and more about delicious food. 

• Adaptive cutlery sets can help foster independence for anyone who struggles with shaking hands, gripping, or keeping food from spilling. 
• Easy-open containers can also be a great holiday gift, especially for someone who struggles with heavier or fiddlier containers. Try to find some that will open with one hand or one press of a button. 
• The next time your chef cooks for you, stay in the kitchen and watch them to get some hints for what to get them. Do they struggle to lift certain items, like mixing bowls? Try a lighter bowl, or one with a handle. Have trouble getting a cup to their mouths without spilling? Try a double-handed cup. Do they have a hard time seeing the marks on a measuring cup? Get them one that talks! The key to a good kitchen gadget gift is knowing what they use regularly, what they might struggle with using, and finding an alternative that your chef will appreciate. 
• Many people with disabilities struggle with food insecurity (Feeding America, PDF). For some, especially those with chronic pain, going to the grocery store can be a task that requires a heroic amount of effort. If you’re not sure what to get your chef, or if you’re not sure what they have, getting them a gift card to a local grocery store that does delivery or to a grocery delivery service can be the most thoughtful gift of the season.

Finding the perfect gift for someone who has a disability can be a daunting task. Hopefully, this guide can serve as a helpful starting point. If you find yourself still having difficulty finding that perfect gift, here are some tips that can help: 

1. It doesn’t have to be expensive. So much assistive technology is pricey, but small, inexpensive, and thoughtful items can be even more meaningful because of the thought and care put into it.  
2. Think about the challenges that the person you’re buying for faces, and get them something that can assist (and if it assists—it’s assistive technology!). For example, if you have a friend who has worsening arthritis symptoms in their feet in the wintertime, a warm pair of socks will show them that you have noticed and that you care. 
3. Know that they are the experts of their own disability. For example, if they warn you against a certain brand, even if it looks good to you, they have a much better idea of what will work for them and what won’t. 
4. Your gift doesn’t have to have anything to do with their disability! If you’ve read this guide to the end, you are certainly a thoughtful gift-giver. But don’t feel pigeon-holed into getting them something that will help with their disability! People with disabilities don’t want to be seen as their disability—they want to be seen as people. Think of their personal interests first when buying a gift for them. 
5. Try it before you buy it. Tools for Life, Georgia’s Assistive Technology Act Program, will help you find the right AT fit for you. If you are in the state of Georgia and want to learn more, contact them here or email them at info@gatfl.gatech.edu.