The Power of OTB Chess in Disability Awareness Month

October is Disability Awareness Month. It is a chance to highlight the value of inclusion and show how activities like chess can bring people together. I have written before about how chess can break barriers for people with disabilities:

• • Breaking Barriers: Chess As An Inclusive Game For All Abilities
  • Let's Make Chess.com The Most Accessible Site To Play Chess!

This year, I want to focus on the benefits of over-the-board (OTB) chess and share what MVP Chess is doing locally in Fairfax, Virginia.

Why OTB Matters

Online chess is great for accessibility. It allows people to play from anywhere. But OTB chess offers something more. Sitting across from another person, setting up the pieces, and making moves in real time creates a different kind of experience.

OTB play helps people connect face to face. You are not just moving pieces. You are meeting someone, talking, and sharing time together. That social connection can make a big difference for people who may not always have easy access to group activities.

Mental Health and Focus

Chess is also good for the mind. It requires focus and patience. For people dealing with depression or anxiety, that focus can help redirect thoughts and bring attention to the present moment.

Finding the right move or finishing a game can provide a small sense of accomplishment. Over time, those moments build confidence. Playing OTB also gives structure. You sit down, play a game, and follow simple rules. That routine can help reduce stress and give players something steady to count on.

From my own experience living with a disability, I know that having a reliable outlet like chess can make a real difference. The board becomes a place to step away from challenges and focus on something positive.

Hands-On Engagement

Moving pieces on a board may look simple, but it also has real benefits. Picking up a piece and placing it on a square uses fine motor skills. Repeating those movements helps with coordination. For many players, this type of activity feels good both mentally and physically. The board becomes more than a game. It is a space where mind and body work together.

MVP Chess and Adaptive Fitness Legion

On November 8, MVP Chess will team up with Adaptive Fitness Legion in Fairfax, Virginia. We will host a lesson followed by live play. The goal is to introduce more people with disabilities to OTB chess and to show the benefits it can bring.

Adaptive Fitness Legion has built a strong community focused on health, strength, and independence. Together, we want to add chess to that mission. Players will learn the basics, play games, and experience the social, mental, and physical rewards of the board.

A Global Movement

This month also brings an important international event. The 2nd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan from October 19–26. Players from around the world will compete and show that chess is open to all.

Events like this highlight the power of inclusion. They prove that disability is not a barrier to playing and competing at a high level. Whether in Astana or Fairfax, the message is clear. Chess is for everyone.

Looking Ahead

Disability Awareness Month is about more than awareness. It is about action. OTB chess can fight isolation, improve mental health, and support physical activity. Most importantly, it helps people connect.

At MVP Chess, we believe this work should continue year-round. Our event with Adaptive Fitness Legion is just one step in that direction. By creating spaces where people with disabilities can play OTB chess, we are opening the game to more players and building stronger communities.

If you want to support this effort, the best way is simple. Sit down across from someone, set up the board, and play. Every game is a chance to make a connection.