Determination Reloaded: Rio’s back in the game
Friday, April 17th, 2026
Image above: Rio playing Call of Duty with his adapted gaming setup. The inset shows him using the four foot-operated switches that replicate the WASD keys.
Rio was used to playing Call of Duty at a high level against his friends, so when a stroke took away the functional movement of his right side, he was determined to find a way to play again to the very best of his abilities.
He began by teaching himself how to use a PC with his left hand, but with limited access to all the keys he needed, playing with speed and accuracy was a challenge.
Our specialist occupational therapy team worked with Rio both online and at his house to identify the most effective ways he could play the games he loved. The result was the loan of a trial accessible gaming setup based around an adapted games controller that had the right shoulder buttons and stick click moved to the left side. The addition of a sturdy mounting arm made the controller easier for Rio to handle, and the vital WASD keys were remapped to four buttons by Rio’s feet. As reaction time is key for Call of Duty, our team slanted the A and D buttons on Velcro wedges to help shave precious milliseconds off each movement.
Rio absolutely loves his setup, and he’s practicing hard to get back to bossing the battlefield with confidence. He’s even gearing up to take on multiplayer zombie mode, something he hadn’t believed was possible since his stroke.
We’re so excited to have played a part in helping Rio reconnect and compete on equal footing with his friends again. It’s a real celebration of his determination which, paired with our long-term expert support, is bringing back a huge part of his life that he was struggling to regain. And, as with everyone we help, we’ll be there if he needs us again in the future.
Finding the right combination of assistive and positioning technology to unlock maximum gaming freedom can be a costly, frustrating and time-consuming process for gamers with disabilities and their families. Only with your help can we carry on making these journeys easier by offering advice, experience, equipment loans and the promise of lifelong help and support – all free of charge.
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