The University of Pittsburgh Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation has been awarded funding from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation for the project Empowered eSports: Accessible Community Gaming for Connection and Growth. This two-year initiative will enhance social engagement, community integration, and quality of life for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) by expanding access to adaptive video gaming. In partnership with the United Spinal Association of Pittsburgh, the program will host monthly community gaming events that foster peer interaction, friendly competition, and mentorship, provide individualized assessments and adaptive gaming equipment to enable at-home and community participation, and expand a nationally accessible online resource with instructional content and a database of adaptive gaming programs. Combining local, hands-on programming with widely available online education, Empowered eSports will create sustainable opportunities for connection, recreation, and personal growth for people with SCI in Pittsburgh and beyond.
We congratulate Dr. Drew Redepenning and Dr. Lynn Worobey for being awarded this funding!