The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Microsoft Corp announce a partnership to introduce the Xbox Adaptive Controller — a video game controller designed for people with limited mobility — at select VA rehabilitation centers across the country.
The partnership will provide controllers and services to Veterans with spinal cord injuries, amputations, and neurological or other injuries as part of therapeutic and rehabilitative activities aimed at challenging muscle activation and hand-eye coordination, and greater participation in social and recreational activities.
Microsoft is donating its Xbox Adaptive Controller, game consoles, games, and other adaptive gaming equipment as part of the collaboration.
Designated VA staff will engage with Veterans using the equipment and share feedback with Microsoft on therapeutic utility and the Veteran experience, according to a media release from Microsoft Corp.
“This partnership is another step toward achieving VA’s strategic goals of providing excellent customer experiences and business transformation,” says VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, in the release. “VA remains committed to offering solutions for Veterans’ daily life challenges.”
“We owe so much to the service and sacrifice of our Veterans, and as a company, we are committed to supporting them,” states Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft.
“Our Xbox Adaptive Controller was designed to make gaming more accessible to millions of people worldwide, and we’re partnering with the US Department of Veterans Affairs to bring the device to Veterans with limited mobility, connecting them to the games they love and the people they want to play with.”
Microsoft’s initial contributions will be allocated across 22 VA facilities. In addition, the controllers and other equipment will be available for Veterans to use at events hosted by VA’s Office of National Veterans Sports Programs and Special Events, such as the National Veterans Wheelchair Games.
[Source(s): Microsoft Corp, Business Wire]
