Building Skills & Friendships Through ES Gaming
With support from a $15,000 grant from the Steuben County Community Foundation, Easterseals Northeast Indiana launched a dynamic initiative designed to level the playing field for individuals with disabilities. In 2024, the ES Gaming project brought together youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) from Steuben County and surrounding areas to build confidence, workforce readiness, and lasting friendships through the power of online gaming.
The project uses esports and virtual reality experiences to help participants strengthen essential skills in leadership, communication, critical thinking, teamwork, cognitive development, and technology. The goal? To enhance academic performance and prepare individuals for future employment, all while having fun and connecting with peers.
A mobile gaming unit took the experience on the road in 2024, making stops at local and regional events, including:
Cardinal Services ribbon cutting
Fort Wayne (twice weekly visits with Pre-Employment Transition students)
Memorial Coliseum (for the Culinary Kings and Queens event)
Autism Walk in downtown Fort Wayne
Electric Works (birthday celebrations, and Family Resources Fair)
Easterseals Angola (location for the official ES Gaming Launch Party)
Participants also had the opportunity to compete in national tournaments hosted by Easterseals and collegiate tournaments at Indiana Tech and Trine University, fostering new levels of engagement, excitement, and inclusion.
The program integrates mentorship from Trine University students and offers hands-on experience through live tournaments, virtual reality simulations, and interactive gaming sessions. A special launch party in Angola drew over 100 community members, and ongoing events, like Stream-A-Thons and local tournaments, continue to spotlight neurodiversity and promote disability awareness in creative, impactful ways.
Photo of Trine student and Easterseals Northeast Indiana member demonstrating ES Gaming.
This project is a powerful example of how innovation, partnership, and community investment can unlock brighter futures for all. The Steuben County Community Foundation is proud to support initiatives that inspire connection, skill-building, and inclusion across our region.