Sony has worked with experts to make a special controller for disabled gamers who play PlayStation 5 (PS5). It’s called the Access Controller and it’s a kit that can be customized to fit each person’s needs. This is the first time Sony has made a device like this for the PS5, while Microsoft has had a similar controller for Xbox and PC since 2018. The goal is to make a kit that has everything disabled gamers need, so they don’t have to buy extra things or deal with lots of wires.

Making products that are accessible for disabled gamers is hard because everyone is different and gaming technology is always changing. Sony’s solution is to let each person customize the controller to fit their needs. They worked with a group called AbleGamers to figure out how to help with things like moving the thumbsticks, pressing buttons, and holding the controller. The Access Controller is meant to help people with these challenges, no matter what their disability is.

The Access Controller was made with help from disabled people to make sure it’s easy to use. Users can change the controller to fit their needs and make different settings for different games or situations. Some things about the design might be confusing, like not having a regular right stick, but overall, this is a good step forward for disabled gamers. It shows that gaming companies care about making games accessible and want to keep getting better.

The gaming industry has been under pressure to make games easier for disabled players. Some recent changes include adding sign language to a racing game, making a mode for blind and deaf players in a game called The Last of Us Part II, and adding wheelchair-friendly dances to Just Dance. But there haven’t been many options for hardware that disabled people can use. Sony’s new controller is trying to fix that and make sure disabled gamers can have the same experiences as everyone else. Sony wants to bring joy to players who couldn’t play before and make gaming more inclusive for everyone.

Original news source: Sony debuts first PS5 controller for disabled gamers (BBC)

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Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Provide each group with a copy of the article.
3. Instruct the groups to read the article and summarize the main points in a short news summary.
4. Encourage the groups to discuss their summaries and compare their understanding of the article.
5. Select a few groups to share their summaries with the class and facilitate a brief discussion about the topic.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Instruct each group to come up with a question related to the topic of the article.
3. Have the groups conduct an opinion poll within the class by asking their question to different students and recording their responses.
4. After collecting the data, have each group analyze and summarize the results.
5. Ask each group to present their question, results, and analysis to the class, encouraging a discussion about different opinions and perspectives.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Write a list of key vocabulary words from the article on the board.
2. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
3. Instruct each group to choose a word from the list and draw a picture that represents the meaning of that word.
4. Allow each group to take turns presenting their drawing to the class without speaking.
5. The rest of the class must guess the word based on the drawing.
6. Encourage the groups to explain the meaning of the word after it has been guessed correctly, using examples from the article.

– Headline Creation
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Instruct each group to come up with a catchy headline that summarizes the main idea of the article.
3. Encourage the groups to be creative and use vocabulary from the article.
4. After all groups have come up with their headlines, ask each group to share their headline with the class and explain why they chose it.
5. Facilitate a brief discussion about the different headlines and their effectiveness in capturing the article’s content.

– Future Predictions
Instructions:
1. Divide the class into pairs or small groups.
2. Instruct each group to discuss and make predictions about the future of accessibility in gaming for disabled players.
3. Encourage the groups to consider technological advancements, potential challenges, and possible solutions.
4. After the groups have had time to discuss, ask each group to share their predictions with the class.
5. Facilitate a discussion about the different predictions and encourage students to support their ideas with evidence from the article or their own knowledge.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the name of the special controller that Sony has made for disabled gamers who play PlayStation 5?
2. How is the Access Controller different from other controllers made by Sony in the past?
3. Why is it difficult to make products that are accessible for disabled gamers?
4. Who did Sony work with to figure out how to help disabled gamers with things like moving the thumbsticks and pressing buttons?
5. How can users customize the Access Controller to fit their needs?
6. What is one confusing thing about the design of the Access Controller?
7. What recent changes have gaming companies made to make games easier for disabled players?
8. What is Sony’s goal with the Access Controller?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Sony has worked with (1)______ to make a special controller for disabled gamers who play PlayStation 5 (PS5). It’s called the Access Controller and it’s a kit that can be customized to fit each person’s needs. This is the first time Sony has made a (2)______ like this for the PS5, while (3)______ has had a (4)______ controller for Xbox and PC since 2018. The goal is to make a kit that has everything disabled gamers need, so they don’t have to buy extra things or deal with lots of wires.

Making products that are (5)______ for (6)______ gamers is hard because everyone is different and gaming technology is always changing. Sony’s solution is to let each person customize the controller to fit their needs. They worked with a group (7)______ AbleGamers to figure out how to help with things like moving the thumbsticks, pressing (8)______, and holding the controller. The Access Controller is meant to help people with these challenges, no matter what their disability is.

The Access Controller was made with help from disabled people to make sure it’s easy to use. Users can change the controller to fit their (9)______ and make (10)______ settings for different (11)______ or situations. Some things about the design might be confusing, like not having a regular right stick, but overall, this is a good step forward for disabled gamers. It (12)______ that gaming companies care about making games accessible and want to keep getting better.

The gaming industry has been under pressure to make games easier for disabled players. Some recent changes include adding sign language to a racing game, making a mode for (13)______ and deaf players in a game called The Last of Us Part II, and adding wheelchair-friendly (14)______ to Just Dance. But there haven’t been many options for hardware that disabled people can use. Sony’s new controller is trying to fix that and make sure disabled gamers can have the same (15)______ as everyone else. Sony wants to (16)______ joy to players who couldn’t play before and make gaming more inclusive for everyone.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is the Access Controller and why is it important for disabled gamers?
2. How do you think the Access Controller can improve the gaming experience for disabled players?
3. Do you think it’s fair that disabled gamers have to buy extra things or deal with lots of wires to play games? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if you couldn’t play video games because of a disability? Why?
5. Do you think it’s important for gaming companies to make games accessible for disabled players? Why or why not?
6. What other changes do you think the gaming industry can make to be more inclusive for disabled players?
7. How do you think the Access Controller can help people with different disabilities?
8. Do you think it’s important for disabled gamers to have the same gaming experiences as everyone else? Why or why not?
9. What challenges do you think disabled gamers face when playing video games?
10. How do you think the Access Controller can make gaming more enjoyable for disabled players?
11. Do you think it’s fair that there haven’t been many options for hardware that disabled people can use in gaming? Why or why not?
12. How do you think the Access Controller can encourage more disabled people to play video games?
13. Do you think other gaming companies should follow Sony’s example and create similar controllers for disabled gamers? Why or why not?
14. What other ways can technology be used to make gaming more inclusive for disabled players?
15. How do you think the gaming industry can continue to improve accessibility for disabled gamers in the future?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. customized
2. disabled
3. controller
4. accessible
5. gamers
6. technology
7. thumbsticks
8. pressing
9. holding
10. confusing
11. regular
12. step forward
13. pressure
14. hardware
15. inclusive

Meanings:
(A) Normal or usual
(B) Pushing down on a button
(C) Small sticks on a controller that are moved with the thumbs
(D) Made to fit a person’s specific needs
(E) The physical components of a computer or electronic device
(F) Gripping or grasping something tightly
(G) People who play video games
(H) The use of scientific knowledge to create new tools and machines
(I) A device used to operate a video game
(J) Difficult to understand or make sense of
(K) A positive development or progress
(L) Having a physical or mental condition that limits a person’s abilities
(M) Including everyone and not leaving anyone out
(N) Able to be easily used or entered
(O) The feeling of being under stress or strain
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the special controller that Sony has made for disabled gamers?
(a) Gaming Controller
(b) Custom Controller
(c) Access Controller
(d) Special Controller

2. Which gaming company has had a similar controller for Xbox and PC since 2018?
(a) Sony
(b) Nintendo
(c) Microsoft
(d) Ubisoft

3. Why is it hard to make products that are accessible for disabled gamers?
(a) Because everyone is different and gaming technology is always changing
(b) Because disabled gamers don’t like playing video games
(c) Because gaming companies don’t care about disabled gamers
(d) Because disabled gamers don’t want accessible products

4. Who did Sony work with to figure out how to help disabled gamers with the Access Controller?
(a) Microsoft
(b) AbleGamers
(c) Nintendo
(d) Ubisoft

5. What can users do with the Access Controller to fit their needs?
(a) Buy extra things and deal with lots of wires
(b) Use the controller as it is without any changes
(c) Only use the controller for PlayStation 5 (PS5)
(d) Change the controller and make different settings for different games or situations

6. What recent changes have gaming companies made to make games easier for disabled players?
(a) Adding sign language to a racing game, making a mode for blind and deaf players, and adding wheelchair-friendly dances to Just Dance
(b) Adding extra levels to games, making the graphics better, and adding new characters
(c) Making games more difficult for disabled players, removing accessibility features, and ignoring their needs
(d) None of the above

7. What is the goal of Sony’s Access Controller?
(a) To make gaming more exclusive for everyone
(b) To make sure disabled gamers can have the same experiences as everyone else
(c) To make sure only disabled gamers can use the controller
(d) To make gaming technology more complicated

8. What does Sony want to bring to players who couldn’t play before?
(a) Frustration
(b) Confusion
(c) Boredom
(d) Joy

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. This is the first time Sony has made a device like this for the PS5, while Microsoft has had a similar controller for Xbox and PC since 2018.
2. The Access Controller cannot be customized to fit the specific needs of each individual.
3. The Access Controller is not designed to be user-friendly and cannot be adjusted to fit different games or situations.
4. Sony’s new controller does not aim to make gaming more inclusive and provide disabled gamers with the same experiences as everyone else.
5. While most aspects of the design may be confusing, such as the absence of a regular right stick, overall, the Access Controller is not a positive step forward for disabled gamers.
6. Sony has created a special controller called the Access Controller for disabled gamers who play PlayStation 5 (PS5).
7. The goal of the Access Controller is to provide disabled gamers with everything they need, eliminating the need for extra purchases or dealing with lots of wires.
8. Sony worked with a group called AbleGamers to determine how to assist with challenges such as moving thumbsticks, pressing buttons, and holding the controller.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is the name of the special controller that Sony has made for disabled gamers?
2. How is the Access Controller different from other controllers made by Sony?
3. Why is it difficult to make products that are accessible for disabled gamers?
4. Who did Sony work with to figure out how to help disabled gamers with the Access Controller?
5. Why is the Access Controller an important step forward for disabled gamers?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. The special controller made by Sony for disabled gamers who play PlayStation 5 is called the Access Controller.
2. The Access Controller is different from other controllers made by Sony in the past because it is a kit that can be customized to fit each person’s needs, making it more accessible for disabled gamers.
3. It is difficult to make products that are accessible for disabled gamers because everyone is different and gaming technology is always changing.
4. Sony worked with a group called AbleGamers to figure out how to help disabled gamers with things like moving the thumbsticks and pressing buttons.
5. Users can customize the Access Controller to fit their needs by making different settings for different games or situations.
6. One confusing thing about the design of the Access Controller is that it does not have a regular right stick.
7. Some recent changes made by gaming companies to make games easier for disabled players include adding sign language to a racing game, creating a mode for blind and deaf players in a game called The Last of Us Part II, and adding wheelchair-friendly dances to Just Dance.
8. Sony’s goal with the Access Controller is to bring joy to players who couldn’t play before and make gaming more inclusive for everyone.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) experts
(2) device
(3) Microsoft
(4) similar
(5) accessible
(6) disabled
(7) called
(8) buttons
(9) needs
(10) different
(11) games
(12) shows
(13) blind
(14) dances
(15) experiences
(16) bring
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. customized
Answer: (D) Made to fit a person’s specific needs

2. disabled
Answer: (L) Having a physical or mental condition that limits a person’s abilities

3. controller
Answer: (I) A device used to operate a video game

4. accessible
Answer: (N) Able to be easily used or entered

5. gamers
Answer: (G) People who play video games

6. technology
Answer: (H) The use of scientific knowledge to create new tools and machines

7. thumbsticks
Answer: (C) Small sticks on a controller that are moved with the thumbs

8. pressing
Answer: (B) Pushing down on a button

9. holding
Answer: (F) Gripping or grasping something tightly

10. confusing
Answer: (J) Difficult to understand or make sense of

11. regular
Answer: (A) Normal or usual

12. step forward
Answer: (K) A positive development or progress

13. pressure
Answer: (O) The feeling of being under stress or strain

14. hardware
Answer: (E) The physical components of a computer or electronic device

15. inclusive
Answer: (M) Including everyone and not leaving anyone out
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the special controller that Sony has made for disabled gamers?
Answer: (c) Access Controller

2. Which gaming company has had a similar controller for Xbox and PC since 2018?
Answer: (c) Microsoft

3. Why is it hard to make products that are accessible for disabled gamers?
Answer: (a) Because everyone is different and gaming technology is always changing

4. Who did Sony work with to figure out how to help disabled gamers with the Access Controller?
Answer: (b) AbleGamers

5. What can users do with the Access Controller to fit their needs?
Answer: (d) Change the controller and make different settings for different games or situations

6. What recent changes have gaming companies made to make games easier for disabled players?
Answer: (a) Adding sign language to a racing game, making a mode for blind and deaf players, and adding wheelchair-friendly dances to Just Dance

7. What is the goal of Sony’s Access Controller?
Answer: (b) To make sure disabled gamers can have the same experiences as everyone else

8. What does Sony want to bring to players who couldn’t play before?
Answer: (d) Joy
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. This is the first time Sony has made a device like this for the PS5, while Microsoft has had a similar controller for Xbox and PC since 2018. (Answer: True)
2. The Access Controller cannot be customized to fit the specific needs of each individual. (Answer: False)
3. The Access Controller is not designed to be user-friendly and cannot be adjusted to fit different games or situations. (Answer: False)
4. Sony’s new controller does not aim to make gaming more inclusive and provide disabled gamers with the same experiences as everyone else. (Answer: False)
5. While most aspects of the design may be confusing, such as the absence of a regular right stick, overall, the Access Controller is not a positive step forward for disabled gamers. (Answer: False)
6. Sony has created a special controller called the Access Controller for disabled gamers who play PlayStation 5 (PS5). (Answer: True)
7. The goal of the Access Controller is to provide disabled gamers with everything they need, eliminating the need for extra purchases or dealing with lots of wires. (Answer: True)
8. Sony worked with a group called AbleGamers to determine how to assist with challenges such as moving thumbsticks, pressing buttons, and holding the controller. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧