We sat down to speak with Mick Donegan, founder and CEO of SpecialEffect, about what accessible gaming really looks like and why it matters so deeply.
This episode explores a reality that is often overlooked. When disabled players are excluded from games, they are not just missing entertainment. They can be missing out on social connection, learning, problem solving, confidence and shared experiences with family and friends. Mick shares how SpecialEffect approaches this work with care and precision, tailoring technology and controls to the individual so more people can play the games they want to play.
It is a practical example of gaming at its best: creative, inclusive and deeply human. For anyone interested in gaming’s wider role in culture, education and wellbeing, this is an episode for you The Good Game Club podcast is supported by a strategic partnership with Tencent, uniting shared ambitions to advance understanding of gaming as a powerful cultural medium.
Chapters and Timestamps
00:00 – Why accessible gaming matters Mick opens with the scale of disability worldwide and why games are a vital part of learning, challenge, and social connection.
00:00:51 – Welcome to the episode The hosts introduce the theme of healthy, inclusive gaming and welcome Mick Donegan from SpecialEffect.
00:02:03 – Mick’s background in education and assistive technology From teaching children with physical disabilities to building technology for learning and communication, Mick explains the path that led him into gaming.
00:04:36 – Founding SpecialEffect Mick describes the early lack of accessible gaming hardware and how the charity began by modifying mainstream controllers and systems. https://www.specialeffect.org.uk/what-we-do/our-work
00:06:39 – Entering games from outside the industry Why Mick did not come from the games world, but from a mission to help children with disabilities get more out of life.
00:08:44 – Building a team of gamers, therapists and technical specialists How SpecialEffect grew its expertise by bringing together people who understood both disability support and games.
00:11:31 – Gaming as a global need A discussion about the global reach of games, online play, and why accessible gaming must be treated as an international issue.
00:13:09 – Matching the player to the game Mick explains SpecialEffect’s “expert tailoring” approach, focusing on what a person can do and adapting controls around their abilities.
00:15:40 – Eye-gaze technology and the story behind Tobii How early work with gaze tracking opened up gaming and communication for people with severe physical disabilities and locked-in conditions. https://www.eyegazegames.com/onboarding
00:19:17 – What game developers can do The conversation turns to accessibility in design, from control schemes to mobile experiences and broader compatibility. https://specialeffectdevkit.info/
00:21:22 – Adaptive hardware is becoming mainstream Mick highlights progress through products like the Xbox Adaptive Controller, Sony Access controller, and related tools. https://gameaccess.info/
00:23:02 – GameAccess.info and sharing knowledge openly Where players, families, and developers can find videos, guides, and practical support for accessible play.
00:29:08 – “Thank you for giving me my life back” Mick shares the powerful story of Tom, who regained the ability to play FIFA with his brother after losing hand function.
00:31:17 – The moment that changed everything A moving story about a three-year-old child using gaze technology for the first time and discovering control, agency, and play.
00:37:05 – AI, the future of accessibility, and the win-win for games Mick reflects on how AI could support shared play and adaptive difficulty, and why accessibility is both a moral opportunity and a commercial one.
