Pioneers: Ken Yankelevitz
Quadriplegic Accessible Gaming for 30+ years
WORK IN PROGRESS (July 2026): "KYE was started in 1981 when Atari referred Ken Yankelevitz to a teenage quadriplegic in Pennsylvania who wanted to play video games. His family and church were searching for something to spark his interest in living after his accident. Ken has had technical help and referrals from many of the game manufacturers over the years. Several KYE customers play video games most of their waking hours, and one is ranked in the top 100 in the world in the internet version of Navy Seals. KYE customers are children up to middle-aged. These game controllers put them on an equal playing field with their friends."
Blog posts on Ken Yankelevitz
Ken Yankelevitz Gallery
Adverts
Articles
Spirit 1982
Vital Flight Sim
YouTube Playlist
Go Back
Work in progress
Article
Spirit 1982 scan pending
Atari compedium 1972-1984 PDF (RESNA? RNT? OneSwitch?)
Adverts / promo compendium PDF Document
Videos (make some public)?
"May his memory always be a blessing."
• AbleData - About (1993-2007)
• A.N.A.L.O.G. Computing (Jul 1983)
• Electronic Games (Oct 1982 p83)
• Electronic Games (Dec 1984)
• EG Letters page (Oct 1984 p16)
• RESNA conference notes (Jun 1983)
• Electronic Games (Feb 1983)
ARTICLES and VIDEO
• YouTube KYE playlist (2026)
• Ken Yankelevitz (Markus Spöhrer) (2026)
• (9-2016)
• Accessible Gaming (Karma Europe) (2014)
• Evolution of Equality (New Mobility) (2014)
• Quadstick.com
• Quadstick Kickstarter (Fred Davison) (2014)
• Ken's call for help (2014)
• OneSwitch e-mail interview with Ken (2012)
• 30 Years of Quadriplegic Gaming (NBC) (2011)
• Video Gaming for Quadripegics (ABC) (2011)
• Truly Innovative Controllers (TGR) (2009)
• CEAPAT 57 Spain (2008)
• CEAPAT 56 Spain (2008)
• CEAPAT 56 & 57 English AI translation
• Playstation 2 Official Magazine UK (2007)
• Disabled Gamers want more than 'fluffy' choices (Chicago Tribune) (2007)
• Accessible Gaming Pioneers (OneSwitch) (2005)
• Help! I've got Pac-Man Fever (DATI) (2004)
• Quadcontrol.com (archive 1999-2016)
• Personal Computers and the Handicapped (1984 p49)
• The LA Times (12 Jun 1983)
• Joystik (Apr 1983 p62)
• Blip (Apr 1983)
• Video Games magazine (Mar 1983)
• The Video Game Update (Dec 1982)
• Spirit (McDonnell Douglas) (Oct 1982)
• Atari referrals (1981)
• Spotify Music
• RobertFlorio.com
• RockyNoHands
• Spinal_Crush (Twitch)
• Hunt for KYE model 403 (2013)
• Horse Riding volunteer work (2008)
• Accessible Car
• EZRA
• PILOT TRS-80 (1979)
• 1984 Atari MindLink - Interface Musuem
• 1983 John Dutton custom controller
• 1983 Atari at the Special Olympics
• 1982 Atari at the Special Olympics
• 1981-1982 William Lynch brain therapy
• 1981-1982 Atari Special Feature
• 1981 "Are you left handed?"
• 1981 Atari Recreational Therapy (Play Meter)
• 1980 Atari's Games Room - Recreational Therapy
• 1980 Robbie Marince / Harmarville Pinball Tournament
• 1978 Atari HQ Games Room
• 1978 Vidcom
• 1978 Canyon Bomber one-button game
• 1977 Little People Play
• 1977 Handicapped Children Enjoy Atari Game
• 1974 Touch Me
• 1972 Pong
• 1971 Bushnell's Law - Easy to Learn, hard to master.
PRIOR SIP-PUFF SYSTEMS
• MAVIS (1975-1981)
• VAPC Magnavox Odyssey (1972)
• POSM (1960)
Credits: Ken Yankelevitz and family. Markus Spöhrer (for extra resources and GAconf video). thecellartroll (Spirit A3 scans). The superb Atari Compendium (Coin Connection articles and some photos). Fred Davison (Quadstick.com).
Photographs have been mostly sourced from Ken Yankelevitz's family archives. They are used here to illustrate game accessibility history and to give tribute to all involved. If anyone would like an image removed, please get in touch.