ES Gaming exists to create a new standard for equity, inclusion and access among all disabled gamers, and amplify disabled voices and accessible innovations to create a more inclusive space in an ever-evolving industry.
This is a new brand and will grow and evolve into something special, with your support.
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ES Gaming Events
What is ES Gaming?
What is Game4Access?
What resources can I use to support ES Gaming?
How can I get involved?
How did ES Gaming get started?
Who are the stakeholders/primary contacts for ES Gaming?
Why is ES Gaming important to the Easterseals mission and how will it support Easterseals as a whole?
Isn’t this just gambling? And what about bullying? How do I learn more about gaming and gaming initiatives?
What is ES Gaming?
ES Gaming was borne out of a need to see more disabled voices front-and-center in video gaming communities and across the video gaming industry. Despite 1-in-5 gamers having a disability , we still do not have widespread inclusive spaces that are welcoming and accessible. As one of the nation’s leading disability nonprofits, Easterseals recognized this challenge and united a community to face it head on. See our master deck for more information.
What is Game4Access?
Game4Access is the activation arm of ESGaming. Streamathons, events, and tournaments are all under the Game4Access umbrella. The goal of Game4Access is to bring together disabled communities while supporting inclusion and accessibility in gaming spaces.
What resources can I use to support ES Gaming?
Here are resources you can use to support ES Gaming in your area:
- Branding assets (logos, emotes)
- ES Gaming Brand Guidelines
- Social Media toolkit
- Master Deck
- Printable Flyers
Don’t forget to join, follow, and promote the following:
How can I get involved?
- Utilize resources available for your network.
- Get involved by following ES Gaming on social media.
- Engage your youth transition and adult program participants.
- Watch streaming events.
- Tell your friends and family!
How did ES Gaming get started?
ES Gaming origin story: As a century-old organization, Easterseals is the seventh largest nonprofit and the largest disability services organization in the United States. The Easterseals national network is full of creative, entrepreneurial people who care deeply about their community and advancing equity, inclusion and access – and who want to see Easterseals diversify and increase its reach with younger audiences as it embarks into this next century.
Easterseals Central Texas established ES Gaming in 2018 to engage colleges and universities in raising funds and awareness for Easterseals locally through video games and esports tournament-style fundraising. In collaboration with Texas, a group of Affiliates launched this into a nationwide initiative in 2020. Today, ES Gaming is a new sub-brand of Easterseals that creates a new standard for equity, inclusion and access among all gamers, and amplify disabled voices and accessible innovations through community building, strategic partnerships and programming.
The playfulness of the ES Gaming brand is intentional and clever. Appealing to younger audiences, a separate sub-brand allows Easterseals to mitigate reputational risk and enhance a specialized approach within gaming and esports. The new branding embraces and pokes fun of the legacy-brand’s history and association with Easter, and ES Gaming matches an equally playful gaming culture with its fresh take on branding.
Who are the stakeholders/primary contacts for ES Gaming?
- Programming: Patrick Remy, Easterseals Massachusetts, premy@eastersealsma.org
- Marketing and Activations: Rachel Sinclair, Easterseals Midwest, rachel.sinclair@esmw.org; Brynne Jones, Easterseals Southern California, brynne.jones@essc.org
- Corporate Partnerships: Jake Adams, Easterseals Southwest Human Development, jadams@swhd.org
- Governance: Liz Meckes, Easterseals Southeastern Pennsylvania, lmeckes@easterseals-sepa.org; Nancy Weintraub, Easterseals Southern California, nancy.weintraub@essc.org
- Executive Committee: Liz Meckes, Easterseals Southeastern Pennsylvania, lmeckes@easterseals-sepa.org; Nancy Weintraub, Easterseals Southern California, nancy.weintraub@essc.org; Brynne Jones, Easterseals Southern California, brynne.jones@essc.org; Christine Ash, Easterseals DMV, cash@eseal.org
- Branding, Content and Social Media: Kat Wallace Knowles, Easterseals National, kwallace@easterseals.com; Erin Hawley, Easterseals National,ehawley@easterseals.com; Yolanda Green, Easterseals National, ygreen@easterseals.com; Lily Newton, Easterseals National, lnewton@easterseals.com; Brynne Jones, Easterseals Southern California, brynne.jones@essc.org
Why is ES Gaming important to the Easterseals mission and how will it support Easterseals as a whole?
The Mission: Easterseals’ mission is to lead the way to full equity, inclusion, and access. There are 98.4 million disabled adults that play videogames in the U.S. However, there are significant barriers to access a lack of respectful and accurate representation in gaming spaces. By leading the way towards breaking down those barriers, we are creating more inclusive communities both online and offline. This starts by first building a community of disabled gamers to support this mission. Building a strong community and encouraging better allyship from gamers without disabilities will send a powerful message that influencers and partners will want to be a part of.
The organization: We have long identified the need to reinvigorate our brand and speak to younger audiences. Not only is ES Gaming meeting young adults where they are, but it is inviting them to take part in a cause they will want to get behind. Additionally, corporate responsibility data consistently shows that younger generations prefer brands that take a stance on social issues. 83% of Gen Zers and 76% of millennials feel that brands should take a stance on social issues, compared to just 59% of consumers 41 years old or older (Merkle). It is advantageous for corporations to partner with ES Gaming to show that they care about inclusion and accessibility in one of the most popular entertainment spaces and consumer markets.
There are a lot of gaming programs and Esports initiatives. ES Gaming sets itself apart by focusing on disabled gamers and by creating an inclusive space in a world that is often inundated by exclusion and ableism. Ultimately, this will create a robust fundraising channel down the road with several opportunities for young donors, influencers, and corporate partners to lend their support. It starts with the cause and an authentic mission.
Isn’t this just gambling? And what about bullying? How do I learn more about gaming and gaming initiatives?
ES Gaming does not support gambling in any way. We have established rules as to which games are allowed. Games must not include nudity, hate speech, realistic violence or gore. We will not play games created with discriminatory and ableist intent.
It is well known that all online spaces must face the issue of bullying and harassment. ES Gaming has taken careful measure to make sure events and communities are moderated appropriately so that everyone feels welcomed. However, even the most well-moderated spaces might run into issues. With this in mind, it is important to note that ES Gaming is for adult gamers and not children. To date, we have created a vibrant community on Discord that is increasingly growing which is indicative of the successful cultivation of a positive and welcoming space.
If you’d like to learn more about gaming and the gaming industry, here are some resources: