I am beginning what I hope will one day be an international organization of volunteer chess players who will donate some of their free time each week to playing chess on a routine basis with people who are either handicapped, elderly, underprivileged, ill, or socially isolated.  I am calling the volunteers who donate their time, "'The Square Dancers' - 'Volunteers Promoting Healthy Minds Through Chess.'"  

As an example, I just handed one of my cards to a man whose wife was shot in a store robbery attempt 15 months ago.  The armed thief shot the young woman, who I would guess is in her mid to late 20's, in the face, shattering her lower jaw, with the bullet lodging in her spine.  They could not remove the bullet, as doing so would jeopardize her life.  According to the husband, she has been a quadriplegic since the shooting. As they were both outside getting some air, I introduced myself to them and told the man of my volunteer service.  They both seemed pleased with my offering. 

The young lady enjoys puzzles, but has never played chess.  I told her she could look forward to having fun.  I need the help of any of you engineer-type experts or those of you with similar situations.  What can I offer this young lady as a device to help her play chess with us on Chess.com?  She cannot move her hands, arms, or feet in any way.  She may have some slight head movement, so I have to find a method of voice activation or a way she can work the keyboard with a headband or her teeth.  I will learn more about her limitations next week, which I will post.

I know we have a lot of wounded veterans from overseas.  I also know they have had to deal with many limitations, too, so I'll likely investigate how they handle their therapeutic solutions .  I am very grateful to Chess.com for providing chess as free entertainment, especially when I can see how much this young lady will likely appreciate our website, otherwise, she will suffer from being socially deprived.  I'm sure we have a number of members who suffer from mobility or health-related issues.

I'll look forward to your comments and suggestions as to how we can help this young lady, and others, while increase the membership of Chess.com and also demonstrate the healing benefits of chess to the world.  I know we have a lot of good hearts in our group, so I trust this young lady will be treated with the respect she deserves, no matter what her rating or playing ability.  If we should find ourselves playing an opponent who, perhaps, isn't up to our usual speed, we may be playing someone who has a lot more challenge to deal with than just their checkmate routine.

Thanks to all of you who took the time to read this post.

Respectfully,

Sir_Gawain

Count me in

It would be my pleasure.

Hey S.G., if you want to make a link, I have several friends here on the site that I think would play too. I would happily send them an invite for this. Maybe even start a new group or something along those lines.    Mike.

I've received several nice responses to this young lady's situation.  Her condition, of course, is only one of many cases out there where good hearted chess players can make a difference in someone's life.  I appreciate your willingness, Mike, and the others' as well.

I'll have to take this a step at a time based on the needs as I encounter them, as this is new for me.  At this point, I'm taking suggestions about how we can accommodate handicapped folks and rehab therapy patients.  These are people who need guidance and patience and without being scalped for ratings.  I need to find a way to be able to work the move cancellation.  If they make a bad move, I want to be able to have them take their moves back.  It would be wonderful to have players on the other end who would be available for such instructional and therapeutic games.

I would suggest that the games be unrated. At least at first. Maybe have the 14 day per move setting. Pretty inspiring this idea of yours. We can use this as an idea page. Let me know what I can do. Mike.

My thanks to you both, Haus and Zlhflans, for your appreciation and encouragement.  It is great to hear from chess players today who can visualize chess making real, life-changing differences in people's lives.  

Strangely enough, I just read a quote posted on Chess.com's 'Famous Quotes': 

George Bernard Shaw: Chess is a foolish expedient for making idle people believe they are doing something very clever, when they are only wasting their time.

I have difficulty believing that such a prominent man such as George Bernard Shaw would have such an impoverished view of what chess offers this world.  To stroke victims, victims like this quadriplegic young lady, chess can help provide meaning for living, let alone, an exercise for recovery.  The game, as most of us know and believe, continues to provide a challenging source of entertainment to those who seek its mysteries, as it has done throughout the centuries.

I restated George Bernard Shaw's quote so we will remember what we can never allow chess to become, for the sake of those who can appreciate its beautiful, fascinating, and rewarding attributes.  If nothing else, chess provides an endless conversation piece.

Again,thank you for your kind replies.

-- Stan Kern 

Thank you for what you are doing.I had the pleasure of playing you in one of the best games I've played in awhileand look foward to the next one.Donating  some of my spare time would be not only a pleasure,but an honor as well.Stay in touch and let met know how i can help in the program.                                                                 GOD BLESS                                                                                                       Gene Hamby

Hey all,

Just found this interesting post.  I too am a quadriplegic, although I do have enough use of my wrists to manipulate a mouse an play on here.  However, for a while I used the voice recognition system "Dragon Naturally Speaking."  Its better for dictation, but does allow one to do 'mouse functions' solely by speaking, and its not too hard to learn or prohibitively expensive.

My guess is it wouldn't be the fastest way to play, but with a turn based game who cares?  And really, if she got into the site I can't imagine other issues for playing online.

I think this is a great thing.  Can't speak for others with disabilities, but I often feel trapped when it comes to competing even in friendly games on a level playing field. But chess (online, at least) is one area where the body doesn't count for much, and my brain can compete just fine.  I would say, though, that once you get the logistics worked out I wouldn't focus any more on playing unrated games or 'going slow & easy' any more so than for anyone else. I lose often and learn from doing so.  Its not all (or much, even) about ny disability, its about finding a good and accessible hobby.  I never asked anyone if they minded playing someone with a disability - I usually don't even say that I have one and its not like people routinely (ever, actually) guess.  Seems to me chess.com is a friendly site, and folks of all skill levels don't have difficulty finding opportunities to play & enjoy.

Good hearing from you, Tolob, and thanks for your comments.  Chess.com has a lot of good minds out there, and some of them are engineers and computer geeks who might find ways to help you play easier or more efficiently.  It sure doesn't hurt to let our group know you're with us, and I'm very glad you did. I'm sure we have others in similar circumstances who are members of Chess.com, too.

If you ever want a game, I'm sure you could rely on anyone who responded favorably to my original post to be understanding and encouraging about your limitations.  I've been fortunate to play many players through Chess.com who are playing because of their love for the game, and not just a rating for themselves.

On behalf of those who identify with our cause here, our best to you, and again, thanks for your post.

I'm open for a game, anytime.

Hope we can continue hearing from you.  One thing to remember is that chess, itself, is alluring and captivating, so all players are typically finding themselves often "feeling trapped", which of course, in a manner of speaking, is the "name of the game", and life, as well.  At least the chessboard can offer us all a sense of equality and common ground on which to grow, and escape.  Our sense of freedom comes from our spirit and mind, so "the sky's the limit".  Perhaps it's the sense of freedom of command and movement that chess offers, which in part, makes the game so popular. 

Hang in there.  

Sir_Gawain