diff --git a/chatterbot/adapters/io/io.py b/chatterbot/adapters/io/io.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/chatterbot/adapters/io/io.py
+++ b/chatterbot/adapters/io/io.py
@@ -7,6 +7,15 @@ class IOAdapter(object):
     that all input-output adapters should implement.
     """
 
+    def __init__(self, **kwargs):
+        pass
+
+    def process_input(self):
+        """
+        Returns data retrieved from the input source.
+        """
+        raise AdapterNotImplementedError()
+
     def process_response(self, input_value):
         """
         Takes an input value.
diff --git a/chatterbot/chatterbot.py b/chatterbot/chatterbot.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/chatterbot/chatterbot.py
+++ b/chatterbot/chatterbot.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class ChatBot(object):
         self.logic = LogicAdapter()
 
         IOAdapter = import_module(io_adapter)
-        self.io = IOAdapter()
+        self.io = IOAdapter(**kwargs)
 
         self.trainer = None
Kwargs are now passed to io adapter.