[games_access] ALERT Press Release

[Thomas Westin]

great!
/thomas

On 28 apr 2008, at 19.11, d. michelle hinn wrote:

> FYI -- Many of you know that ALERT (Accessible Learning through  

> Entertainment and Recreation Tools) was released to the public  

> recently. This is a project co-sponsored by the SIG and is aimed at  

> educators whose budgets are far too low as most of us know. To help  

> raise awareness amongst educators about the free service, I've sent  

> out this press release to our list of educators and educational  

> technologists.This is a Press Release that is being sent out to  

> educators and such.

>

> - Michelle

>

> Accessible Learning through Entertainment and Recreation Tools  

> (ALERT) Project Released

>

> Champaign, IL and Salem, MA

>

> April 2, 2008

>

> The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Game  

> Accessibility Special Interest Group (GA-SIG) and 7-128 Software are  

> pleased to announce the release of the Accessible Learning through  

> Entertainment and Recreation Tools (ALERT) Project.

>

> The ALERT Project is a free on-line service for people searching for  

> free or low-cost accessible computer games suitable for learning or  

> rehabilitative environments. The service provides the following  

> information:

>

> - Where to get those games for free or at low cost

> - What to look for in selecting those games, quickly, and with fewer  

> costly mistakes

> - How to apply those games to learning objectives

> - Who to go to for free help

>

> This information will be updated over the course of 2008 with a  

> growing series of "How To" articles written by Eleanor Robinson,  

> former college instructor and current game developer.

>

> The ALERT Project is a result of information requests about  

> available resources from educators to the IGDA GA-SIG and to 7-128  

> Software.

> "As both a game industry consultant about accessibility and as an  

> educational psychologist, when the ALERT Project was originally  

> announced I immediately thought about getting the word out about the  

> project to people working in the field of education, including those  

> in special education and educational technology. With funding crises  

> in education, particularly in the United States, schools could  

> really benefit from this free resource that could help many  

> students, particularly those with disabilities, gain the educational  

> opportunities that educational games can provide," Michelle Hinn,  

> IGDA GA-SIG Chairperson said.

> Hinn is one of the Accessibility Experts who have volunteered to  

> answer questions related to accessible games. Other IGDA GA-SIG  

> members who are Accessibility Experts working with 7-128 Software  

> include: Reid Kimball, Barrie Ellis, Mark Barlet, Thomas Westin,  

> Eelke Folmer, and John Bannick, CTO of 7-128 Software.

>

> "With the ALERT Project, we've tried to answer the plea of school  

> psychologists, special education teachers, geriatric care managers,  

> and similar professionals who want to use computer games with their  

> students and patients but don't know where to start," said Bannick.

> The ALERT Project is available without cost or registration at http://www.7128.com

>

> About the IGDA Game Accessibility Special Interest Group (GA-SIG)

>

> The IGDA Game Accessibility SIG is a game industry advocacy group  

> formed to promote awareness of the issues that gamers with  

> disabilities face and to help provide solutions that can be used to  

> design games that are accessible to all. For more information on the  

> IGDA Game Accessibility SIG, please visit http://www.igda.org/accessibility 

>  -- Press inquiries should be directed to the SIG chairperson  

> Michelle Hinn athinn at uiuc.edu or by mobile phone at 1.217.898.9684.

>

>

> About the International Game Developers Association (IGDA)

>

> The International Game Developers Association is a non-profit  

> professional society that is committee to advancing the careers and  

> enhancing the lives of game developers by connecting members with  

> their peers, promoting professional development, and advocating on  

> issues that affect the developer community. For more information on  

> the IGDA, please visit http://www.igda.org

> About 7-128 Software

>

> 7-128 Software is a game development studio in the casual games  

> market. They have released over 30 games, including the Inspector  

> Cyndi in Newport mystery series. The various games are accessible to  

> gamers with visual, auditory, cognitive, and mobility impairments.  

> Many of these games are also focused on "brain training." For more  

> information about 7-128 Software, please visit http://www.7128.com  

> -- Press inquires should be directed to Cynthia A Geller, Vice  

> President of Marketing and Sales, at c_geller2008 at 7128.com or at  

> 1.978.745.0160.

> _______________________________________________

> games_access mailing list

> games_access at igda.org

> http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access


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