@OTunleashed

Army Occupational Therapist for 20 years (the @ArmyOTguy) Gamer therapist & CMO for Warfighter Engaged. #a11y Advocate. Living life & loving people!

 Waco, TX
erikunleashed.com
Joined November 2015
  • Tweets2.3K
  • Following1.4K
  • Followers1.9K
293Media
Hey #OccupationalTherapy humans (or anyone)! My doctoral capstone student created an incredible way to use tabletop role playing games (TTRPGs) in therapy sessions! I'd absolutely love if you could take a quick look & fill out the survey below!! TIA! pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/f…
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Thank you to all of you who supported us over the past 14 years! It’s been an honor to serve.
Warfighter Engaged@WFEngagedJan 2
End of an era. Thank you all. Warfighter out.
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Pretty excited to be headed up to Capital Hill in DC today to talk about the positive mental health benefits that gaming provides veterans! theesa.com/resources/2025vet…

2025 Veterans Survey

A new national survey reveals video games help veterans manage stress, build connections, and enhance their well-being — both during and after military service. Explore how play supports those who...

theesa.com
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Posted this a couple years ago...I'll just leave it riiiiiight here.
Erik S Johnson@OTunleashed3 Mar 2023
Pro tip: Any of us in the #a11y space should be a little more kind to other people in the #a11y space when they’re trying to create content to help others engage more independently. Not cool having people poo on the efforts you make to help people.
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Erik S Johnson retweeted
Ian Hamilton
@ianhamilton_13 May 2025
There are many wonderful game accessibility nonprofits doing life changing work, from SpecialEffect to Makers Making Change, from NothingWithoutUs to Everyone Can, from CapGame to Warfighter Engaged to the Let's Play Games Project. Don't let the current news distract from that.
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What up humans! After over a month of collecting and scouring the earth for packs, @bigjimmy_6 and I are finally going to open this huge lot of @pokemontcg cards tonight LIVE on Instagram on my public page @OTunleashed!! The live stream will hit at 7:30 central time here in the US! Come hang with us and see what hits we get!! #PokemonTCG
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This!!!!! 🙌🏼
GDC Festival of Gaming
@Official_GDC5 Feb 2025
BREAKING: The Entertainment Software Association (@theESA) will take the Main Stage at GDC 2025—side by side with Electronic Arts, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo of America, and Ubisoft—to unveil a new accessibility initiative to improve the player experience. bit.ly/3EtgIEX
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Incredibly excited to share that I get to present the award for "Best Assistive Technology" for the 2024 GAconf accessibility awards! Be sure to tune in at 9am PST on Wednesday the 29th to see the winners!!
The Game Accessibility Conference@GA_Conf22 Jan 2025
A week today! 🪇 Join us on Wednesday 29th Jan at 9am PST (5pm GMT) for the unveiling of the winners of the 2024 GAconf accessibility awards! gaconf.com/gaconf-awards-202… #gamedev #accessibility
Steve Saylor against a backdrop of gold sparkles, titled GAconf (IGDA-GASIG) Awards 24

ALT Steve Saylor against a backdrop of gold sparkles, titled GAconf (IGDA-GASIG) Awards 24

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Can’t wait to watch!!!
The Game Accessibility Conference@GA_Conf22 Jan 2025
A week today! 🪇 Join us on Wednesday 29th Jan at 9am PST (5pm GMT) for the unveiling of the winners of the 2024 GAconf accessibility awards! gaconf.com/gaconf-awards-202… #gamedev #accessibility
Steve Saylor against a backdrop of gold sparkles, titled GAconf (IGDA-GASIG) Awards 24

ALT Steve Saylor against a backdrop of gold sparkles, titled GAconf (IGDA-GASIG) Awards 24

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So excited to see the list of nominees!! Love running through each category and seeing friends, colleagues, and amazing orgs among the nominees!! Congrats to all of you!
The Game Accessibility Conference@GA_Conf25 Nov 2024
The finalists for the 2024 GAconf Awards have been announced! Here's a handy thread of all of the categories - #gamedev #indiedev #accessibility
Steve Saylor against a backdrop of gold sparkles, titled GAconf (IGDA-GASIG) Awards 24

ALT Steve Saylor against a backdrop of gold sparkles, titled GAconf (IGDA-GASIG) Awards 24

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Hey X #a11y community! I was hoping you all might be able to help me out. I'm curious what your favorite adaptive gaming switch, button, or joystick is? Or maybe your favorite source to get adaptive gaming accessories is. Hit me with your answer in the comments!
A man (me, Erik Johnson) and a young boy are seated at a table, both focused on playing video games. The boy, wearing a Pikachu-themed cap and glasses, uses the xbox adaptive controller and adaptive switches to play. The table in front of them is filled with various adaptive gaming devices and wires. In the background, several other people observe.

ALT A man (me, Erik Johnson) and a young boy are seated at a table, both focused on playing video games. The boy, wearing a Pikachu-themed cap and glasses, uses the xbox adaptive controller and adaptive switches to play. The table in front of them is filled with various adaptive gaming devices and wires. In the background, several other people observe.

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A shift in focus from us @WFEngaged. Thank you all for your years of support.
Warfighter Engaged@WFEngaged23 Sep 2024
Bittersweet update from WFE: After years of proudly creating adaptive gaming solutions for veterans, our mission is shifting. While we’ll no longer build custom devices after Dec '24, we’re excited to focus on consulting and clinics. TY for your unwavering support. Details👇🫡
A letter from Warfighter Engaged with the organization’s logo at the top. The letter addresses an important update regarding the future of the organization. It announces that Warfighter Engaged will no longer design or build custom gaming buttons, switches, and joysticks after December 31, 2024, marking the end of their mission to provide free adaptive gaming solutions for veterans. The letter emphasizes their shift in focus to consulting, accessible gaming clinics, and advocacy. It also highlights the organization’s pride in their past work and their confidence in future accessibility champions. The letter ends with gratitude for supporters and an outline of future goals, signed by 'The Warfighter Engaged Team.'"

ALT A letter from Warfighter Engaged with the organization’s logo at the top. The letter addresses an important update regarding the future of the organization. It announces that Warfighter Engaged will no longer design or build custom gaming buttons, switches, and joysticks after December 31, 2024, marking the end of their mission to provide free adaptive gaming solutions for veterans. The letter emphasizes their shift in focus to consulting, accessible gaming clinics, and advocacy. It also highlights the organization’s pride in their past work and their confidence in future accessibility champions. The letter ends with gratitude for supporters and an outline of future goals, signed by 'The Warfighter Engaged Team.'"

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It's crazy that I even have to post this. Long story short, I've been a victim of identity theft for over a decade. Scammer's take my likeness and use it to fraud women around the world. I finally made a video to address it. It is insane! Buckle up because it's a wild ride! Scammer's gonna scam youtu.be/UGqaIaF3HIQ?si=qVEX… via @YouTube
**Alt Text:** A yellow and black graphic with the text "YOU GOT SCAMMED" in bold letters. Above it, a smaller text reads "Sorry but there’s not much I can do about it." On the left, I'm standing there (Erik Johnson) and pointing at a speech bubble saying "Sorry, Not me bruh." Around me are various fake photos of me that people have used to scam women, including one in a blue suit, one at a desk, and one lounging shirtless.

ALT **Alt Text:** A yellow and black graphic with the text "YOU GOT SCAMMED" in bold letters. Above it, a smaller text reads "Sorry but there’s not much I can do about it." On the left, I'm standing there (Erik Johnson) and pointing at a speech bubble saying "Sorry, Not me bruh." Around me are various fake photos of me that people have used to scam women, including one in a blue suit, one at a desk, and one lounging shirtless.

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Late night question for my game #accessibility family. I'm just curious about compensation in the industry. Would you mind just throwing in your two cents? Thanks! #a11y #VideoGames
30%I Work full time in #a11y
24%I get paid some for #a11y
27%Wish I got paid for #a11y
18%People get paid for this?
33 votes • Final results
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This is quite possibly the craziest thing I’ve ever experienced in the accessibility community space. Like…I have no words.
Grant Stoner@Super_Crip199423 Aug 2024
Over the last several months, I have been investigating rumors that games accessibility advocate Susan Banks, Tubi Hamid, and Deb Vaughan were real people. Here's what I found: ign.com/articles/a-prominent…

A Prominent Accessibility Advocate Worked With Studios and Inspired Change. But She Never Actually...

In the years since the alleged death of beloved accessibility advocate Susan Banks, mounting evidence and accounts from those close to her work suggest that she was not the person she claimed to be....

ign.com
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Holy moly! This is amazing!! Congrats to @KaitlynJones_ and team for this amazing new piece of hardware!! I can’t wait to get my hands on one!!
Dr. Kaitlyn Jones@KaitlynJones_21 Aug 2024
So incredibly excited the cat is out of the bag! Thank you to our incredible teams across Xbox who worked to make this a reality and to our amazing disability community where critical throughout the end to end design process ❤️
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So excited to be speaking again for the @GA_Conf this year! Exciting lineup!
The Game Accessibility Conference@GA_Conf20 Aug 2024
📢 First speakers announced for GAconf USA! 📢@KaitlynJones_, @OTunleashed, @ross_minor, @TheSlasherChick, @arevya, @ianhamilton_, and Pat O'Leary. Many more to come! 28th-29th Oct, hybrid online & Redmond. Tickets on sale now, registration & info at GAconf.com
#GAconf, IGDA-GASIG. Advancing accessibility for disabled players. Hybrid online & Redmond, October 28th - 29th 2024

ALT #GAconf, IGDA-GASIG. Advancing accessibility for disabled players. Hybrid online & Redmond, October 28th - 29th 2024

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Bout to go beast mode on game #accessibility solutions for the cats at Empower Spinal Cord Injury! See you tomorrow Rhode Island! #VideoGames #OccupationalTherapy
Pictured are dozens of buttons and switches designed to play video games considering accessibility barriers. The buttons and switches are all different colors.

ALT Pictured are dozens of buttons and switches designed to play video games considering accessibility barriers. The buttons and switches are all different colors.

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Ep 11 is live! @sightlessKombat and I chat about so much fun stuff. #a11y in video games, barriers for blind or low vision gamers, our year's long rivalry (that he dominates), and how gaming is way more than just a silly hobby! #OccupationalTherapy spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e…
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