Player 21
| A Game of Challenge, Choice, and Compassion
Player 21 was the final project for my Global Digital Project class, where we explored the creation of a video game that prioritizes empathy and education. Built using p5.js, our goal was to design a game that not only entertains but also educates non-disabled players about the lived experiences and daily challenges faced by people with disabilities while rooting our work in a global context of inclusivity and social responsibility.
Our game focuses specifically on Down Syndrome, but rather than portraying the disability itself as the challenge, we shifted the narrative: we presented Down Syndrome as the tool—a unique way of experiencing the world. To reflect this, we designed a toolkit that players can access throughout the game, filled with assistive and adaptive tools commonly used by individuals with Down Syndrome. These include items like magnetic shirts, adaptive toothbrushes, and transit apps, which players use to overcome different situational challenges.
Through immersive gameplay mechanics, stress-response systems, and environmental storytelling, Player 21 invites players to walk in someone else’s shoes (literally and figuratively), encouraging reflection on accessibility, design, and the power of inclusive innovation! This game took a lot of trial and error, and overall I’m very proud of what my group and I were able to accomplish in the end.
