[games_access] ALERT Press Release

[d. michelle hinn]

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 at hinn 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.
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