AbleGamers will send 3 developers with disabilities to Train Jam and GDC 2018

AbleGamers Foundation has opened signups for three sponsorships that will send game developers with disabilities to Train Jam 2018 and the Game Developers Conference 2018. Interested developers can submit an application here. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. Pacific on December 3, 2017.

Train Jam tasks its participants to form teams and create games during the 52 hour train ride from Chicago to San Francisco, where GDC 2018 will take place. GDC is the world’s largest professional gaming event. Both are great opportunities for developers.

“Being able to network on Train Jam and at GDC is an incredible opportunity, but is especially important for people with disabilities as it can be a greater challenge for us to effectively network,” AJ Ryan, one of last year’s recipients, said of his experience in a press release sent to GamesBeat. “The game industry could use more people with disabilities fighting for accessibility from within. AbleGamers and Train Jam are two of very few resources game developers with disabilities have, so I’d absolutely recommend applying for the scholarship as it’s truly priceless.”

Gaming rarely takes into the account the needs of players and developers with disabilities or special needs. AbleGamers helps by giving them custom gaming setups with special controllers and assistive technology. It’s common to see charities or developers sponsor contests and other promotions to send people to GDC, but AbleGamers focuses on helping those with disabilities.