Students at Washington State School for the Blind play with gaming lab items. (Photo courtesy of Marian Mays/WTBBL)

The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library is hosting an adapted gaming lab event for teens ages 13-18 this Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. WTBBL is located at 2021 – 9th Ave. in downtown Seattle.

The gaming lab is free and geared toward teens with visual or physical impairments. Pizza will be provided.

“This will be a really fun event,” said WTBBL Youth Services Librarian Marian Mays. “Gaming is extremely important since play fosters crucial social, emotional and cognitive skills in individuals of all ages. It is also an essential part of the adolescent experience. My goal is for teens and educators around the state to use this gaming lab for education, fun and to make new relationships with their peers.”

Mays said Saturday’s gaming lab at WTBBL will include braille board games, braille card games, tactile games like giant jenga, Legos and audio games such as Blindscape and Blindfold Horserace.

Teens interested in attending the gaming lab should RSVP Mays by Friday at [email protected] or (206) 615-1253.

Mays took the gaming lab on the road last week, appearing at the Washington State School for the Blind in Vancouver.

“It was really fun getting to meet so many students and teachers in Vancouver,” Mays said. “They enjoyed the event and they are excited about our upcoming summer reading program.”

Mays and the gaming lab will appear at Yakima’s Eisenhower High School this Thursday. “I look forward to taking the lab on the road to schools for fun or education. I encourage teachers to contact me if they are interested in having the lab come to their school.”

Funding for the gaming lab comes from a $1,000 grant that Mays received to support Teen Tech Week digital literacy programming that targets underserved or marginalized teens. Teen Tech Week is March 6-12, with the theme of “Create it at your library.”

WTBBL is part of the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of Secretary of State.