Neurodiverse People Find Purpose and Friendship in Gaming

Gaming can be much more than just a pastime. For neurodiverse individuals it is becoming a pathway to connection, purpose, and belonging. 

In Geraldton, Australia, a gaming space called The Zone creates opportunities for building friendship and developing leadership qualities for individuals with ADHD and those on the autism spectrum, reported ABC News.

The Zone
Tammy Treasure, a former nurse and IT worker with two sons who have been diagnosed with being on the autism spectrum and ADHD. Treasure set up The Zone with the help of Arthur Johnson, a dad who also has ADHD himself and runs a gaming center in Queensland.

The Zone is a gaming space for neurodivergent people. The center has all sorts of gaming equipment, both virtual and tangible, including computers, VR headsets, a Nintendo Switch, air hockey, and board games. 

Treasure tells ABC that she wanted an outlet for her sons. “There just isn’t anything here [in Geraldton] that they warm towards,” she explains. ”I would have loved them to do sport, because I loved it as a child, but there was nothing that really grabbed them.”

Gaming as an Alternative to Sports
Treasure isn’t the only mom with neurodivergent kids who’ve gravitated to gaming over sport. Alicia Kimberley has a nine year old son, Corbin, who is on the autism spectrum. She says, “He wants to feel a part of something. Most kids do that with sport when they’re part of a team, but when you have kids that aren’t like-minded in their physical abilities, that can be quite difficult.”

Corbin explains that, “When I’m at home, no-one really ever wants to play with me. So yeah, that’s kind of the main reason why I go here; it’s just so fun.”

Matt Harrison, a lecturer of learning intervention at the University of Melbourne and an individual with ADHD explains that gaming can play a similar role in developing children’s emotional regulation and cooperative-play abilities that sports often do.

“I think every child needs to learn how to be able to calm themselves down and think through a strategy, check for understanding from their team members and to give feedback in a constructive way,” Harrison says. “These are skills that we typically associate with team sport.”

Boosting Confidence and Social skills
Harrison adds that gaming also helps children develop leadership skills. “Gaming is a really powerful space for young people,” he shares. “They have a real interest and a knowledge about how to play the games, and it puts them in a position where they can lead other people and demonstrate their skills and talents. It builds up that confidence and sense of belonging, which we know is so important for a whole range of quality of life outcomes.”

In fact, the Reframing Autism organization explains on its website that gaming can be an ideal activity for many individuals with autism. Video games appeal to those with focused interests and also typically have structure, rules, and predictable, repeating patterns. 

A study found that teens on the autism spectrum were able to experience agency, connection, and joy through gaming. The teenagers also reported that gaming helped them develop self regulation. 

At The Zone specifically, ABC reports that many of the games are cooperative, encouraging players to build friendships and develop social skills. Treasure shares that she’s seen strong friendships flourish over gaming. 

Building Community
The Zone isn’t just there to serve neurodivergent individuals of all ages though. Parents of Zone participants also experience a sense of community. Kimberley tells ABC that while Corbin plays, she hangs out with the other parents and caregivers.

“It’s been great having that connection, knowing we’re not alone,” Kimberley explains. “It’s fantastic building those friendships that we otherwise probably wouldn’t have made.”

According to Kimberley,Corbin wants to go to The Zone all the time. She says, “It went from once a week to twice a week because we’ve seen how much he’s loved and thrived being a part of it. It’s just such a positive, fun environment for our kids.”