I’ve been working on a (low fantasy) game for about two months now, and it recently occurred to me that there is absolutely no reason why I couldn’t give players the option of playing as a main character who uses a mobility aid such as a wheelchair or a cane. However, if I’m going to do this, I really want to get it right and be sensitive. The problem is that although I walk with a cane, neither I nor any of my alpha testers have ever used a wheelchair for any length of time.
What I’m looking for:
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Input on how to respectfully write a main character in wheelchair, especially from people who use wheelchairs themselves
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References for other games that have done anything similar, if possible
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General suggestions.
Some game background: The game is still very much in flux, but essentially the main character is a member of a race of people born with the inherent and supernatural ability to blend in. With the proper training, they can become practically invisible, sharpen their own senses, and even erase memories of themselves from other people’s minds. The main character is a new recruit in an organization that harnesses those skills for information gathering and national defense (okay, they’re fantasy spies). By my estimation, the plot of the story would work just as well for a character in a wheelchair, a character with a cane, a character without either, etc.
Thanks everyone, I’m looking forward to chatting with you!!!