Gamer without hands uses Twitch platform for disability advocacy
December 3 marks the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This week, Stuff is highlighting systemic issues that prevent disabled people living in an accessible and equitable world, and profiling New Zealanders raising awareness for disability issues.
Humphrey Hanley doesn't have hands, but he still manages four to five hours of playing video games every day.
The 40-year-old Wellington man, who has a condition called epidermolysis bullosa, goes by the handle NoHandsNZ on the streaming platform Twitch.
Hanley has amassed more than 5000 followers on his platform and uses it to draw attention to issues that impact the disability community.
* Five ways Twitch’s massive data leak might change live streaming as we know it * Miami Heat star sent 'away from the team indefinitely' after using anti-Semitic slur * Brain injury victim soothes suffering with newfound musical talent
"I was born with this disability, epidermolysis bullosa, essentially what that means is having very fragile skin that also blisters and scars if I get bumped,” Hanley said.
"It meant a very careful childhood, a good family of people who weren't going to let something like that hold me back from living a life, basically."
Hanley has no hands, but technically hasn't had any amputations.
“All the bone structure is there but the result of my condition is there's a whole lot of scar tissue that has completely fused all my fingers into a fist,” he said.
He has always been creative, but his disability created barriers to finding work in that space.
"I was born in the 80s, so kids with disabilities being a part of everyday life was a very new thing, even in school,” he said.
"I grew up in an era where you had to fight for what you needed
Read more on stuff.co.nz
