With already over 8k layoffs in gaming, 2024 is set to exceed 2023’s 10k. Disabled employees caught in the aftermath are now forced to sacrifice lifesaving meds, crucial procedures, and even forgo treatments. Read my
@IGN
report about the layoffs here:
Friendly reminder that these remakes are being updated with the latest accessibility settings that cannot be implemented into their original releases. FURTHER, tlou remake introduced an option that has never been implemented in any AAA title ever. Remakes are not useless
I'm really curious as to why the games industry isn't celebrating Disability Pride Month? No announcements, no front page showcases on Twitch, no support from able-bodied allies. There's just nothing. I only see disabled people talking about it
Hi there! Are you a visually or cognitively disabled player impacted by the newest Splatoon Splattercolor Screen? I'm writing a report for
@IGN
and would love to hear from you!
Elden Ring is a game filled with numerous barriers for many disabled people. But for me, its use of inclusive design makes it one of the most physically accessible open world games I've played in years. Read my accessibility review for
@FanbyteMedia
here:
Next year, you REALLY need to have members of the disabled community present the Innovation in Accessibility Award. We have worked tirelessly for years to be recognized and treated with respect.
Thanks for watching
#TheGameAwards
Love to hear your feedback on the show / what you liked, what you didn’t. Proud of our team and the industry for bringing this together.
A new article is up! Game Subscription services like
@XboxGamePass
and PS Now are great for delivering a bevy of content, but they also provide an immense feeling of independence for disabled people. Check out my first byline in
@WIRED
!
So, I think it's time. Join me for a thread where I explain why, in my opinion,
@CyberpunkGame
is one of the most inaccessible games I've ever played. Ready?
PlayStation games on PC are INCREDIBLY accessible for people like me who can't use the controller. As someone who's never been able to play Spider-Man, I'm SO EXCITED!
I'm super excited to announce I'm now writing a monthly column for
@IGN
! Access Designed will explore my thoughts surrounding accessibility across the gaming industry. You can read the first issue – the best accessibility surprises of last year – below!
"STOP USING MAGIC" they scream as I 3-shot a boss. "YOU'RE RUINING THE GAME" they shout while foaming at the mouth as I put more points into Intelligence.
Dead Space's near-perfect implementation of physical accessibility options and design practices made me fall in love with a horror game. This remake demonstrates that this genre can be entertaining and accessible. Read my latest
@inversedotcom
review here:
In 2023, Starfield is nothing short of an accessibility disaster. For this month's Access Designed, I decided to not review an outdated game. Instead, I wanted to explore Bethesda's inability to keep up with accessibility. Read my latest column here:
So uh... I can't review
@CyberpunkGame
. I'll make a detailed tweet thread later, but WOW. This is probably the most inaccessible game released in YEARS
With the reveal of Project Leonardo, I had the opportunity to speak with
@PlayStation
's Jim Ryan in an exclusive interview for
@WIRED
. He discussed PlayStation's commitment to accessibility, its development, and the hopes for the future. Read more here:
It's me! Ragnarok is proof of
@SonySantaMonica
's commitment to accessibility for current and future titles. It also demonstrates that many of the features and design choices we've come to love take years to develop. I'm really happy with how this story turned out!
I'm over 12 hours into Elden Ring and it's probably my GOTY, right above Arceus. What it lacks in options it makes up for in some of the best inclusive design I've seen in a long time! Expect my full accessibility review soon
My Xbox adaptive set up cost me over $360. 150 of that are devices that are currently not supported on the website. I already can't play my PlayStation. This is actually ridiculous. This is not only a waste of money, but now there would be no point in me having my Xbox
Easy Mode is a term used by both able-bodied and disabled people alike when arguing about a game's accessibility. Yet, for as much vitriol as the term carries, its inclusion, or lack thereof will not drastically affect a game. Read my latest for IGN here:
The update isn't a huge overhaul of the existing guidance, but it does represent an increasing focus on individuals making their own decisions about their level of risk and how they want to mitigate that risk, said Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer for the
@ASTHO
.
No hashtag or amount of likes on social media is going to take away the fact that our government willingly thinks disabled people are expendable. What's probably more upsetting is that barely any able-bodied people are reacting. It's only us disabled people like it always is
The accessibility movement extends far beyond software. For one father, the lack of accessible controllers led him to work with
@8BitDo
to create a controller perfect for his son's needs. I'm SO incredibly excited to share this
@WIRED
piece with you!
ICYMI, Microsoft's banning of third-party equipment is a detriment to disabled players. First-party hardware cannot be the only accessible solution. Without alternatives, many disabled players will have to abandon their consoles. Read my latest
@IGN
report here:
Speaking with IGN, disabled players explored how Xbox's changes to third-party accessory allownace will impact their setups, the overall cost of their equipment, as well as money lost, and the ways in which the community is reacting.
For those who are going to criticize this, ask yourselves, how can I provide an in-depth review if I am unable to even get past the customization screen? In 2020, it is ABSOLUTELY inexcusable for a studio to publish a game that causes this much grief for disabled players.
It's finally time. After covering this device for almost a year and writing my first ever exclusive story about this controller, I'm excited to share that I'm writing the official review for
@IGN
. Expect my full thoughts soon.
For the first time since 2019, I can play my
@PlayStation
. While the Access Controller's software is some of the best I've used, its overall design makes me question who this was made for. I'm so excited to share with you my first review for
@IGN
here:
Accessibility is usually divided into three categories: mobility, auditory, and visual. But players with mental health disabilities have often found themselves left out of those innovations. That’s beginning to change. Read my latest
@inversedotcom
here:
Hi! Are you a disabled player who uses, or conversely, struggles to use VR because of your disability? I'm writing a story for WIRED and would love to hear from you! RTs appreciated!
I'm so incredibly excited to announce I wrote my first feature for
@gameinformer
! Growing up, this magazine is what made me want to become a video game journalist, and to write a story dedicated exclusively to the disabled experience was beyond thrilling.
@Super_Crip1994
talked to disabled members of the fighting game community about accessibility options in the genre and what developers/organizers need to do better in the future.
Hi! Are you a disabled person playing Elden Ring? What build do you use? Does your build make the game more accessible for you? What other features do you use to increase its accessibility? I'm writing a story for Inverse and would love to hear from you! RTs appreciated.
It's great to see DeathLoop receive such positive scores, but it's inaccessibility makes it incredibly difficult to play for numerous disabled people. This is why accessibility reviews NEED to become mainstream. If we leave accessibility out, we aren't telling the full story.
For
@inversedotcom
, I had the opportunity to speak with the Director of Accessibility at
@Ubisoft
. We talked about the challenges behind creating an accessibility team, how time and patience is key, and how future generations can help. Read more here:
I am begging people to move beyond the notion that a game is inaccessible if it doesn't have options in the settings menu. Half of this year's games that are some of my favorite are accessible primarily through their design practices. Settings do not always mean accessibility
It's been several months since Xbox and PlayStation banned third-party equipment. I'm looking to speak with disabled players who are impacted since the decision. What can you no longer use? What do you use now? RTs appreciated!
Hi! Are you a disabled player using adaptive equipment to play games that ISN'T the Xbox Adaptive Controller? I'm writing a story for Fanbyte and would love to hear from you! RTs appreciated
Accessibility in games is difficult. There is never going to be a game that EVERYONE can play. However, we still shouldn't look past the amazing accessibility achievements of titles just because you can't play it. I should know. I still can't play TLOU2, but I'll always praise it
Everyone talking about leaving Twitter is fine and in their right, but do not expect disabled people to simply start over on another platform. Many use this site to socialize, work, and even advocate for others and themselves. Starting over is too much
I truly cannot tell you how excited I am for this. Not only will I be able to play some of my favorite series, I'll also be able to FINALLY start reviewing and writing about a third of the industry!
Take a closer look at the Access controller for PS5, designed in collaboration with the accessibility community and available to preorder starting July 21.
New video:
Fun fact – disabled people are also genuinely not allowed to get married because then the dual income would make them lose benefits. Many of us are perpetually stuck in poverty. Not only are we unable to afford basic necessities, we also can't legally be with people we love
Almost 27 percent of disabled people live in poverty, nearly twice the rate of the general population. Even in the best of times, disabled people are struggling to feed themselves.
I wanted to play and enjoy the game. But, I don't even have enough experience to properly review this title since I couldn't even function beyond the menu! From an accessibility perspective, it's frustrating and inexcusable for this game to have launched in its current state
I see the Easy Mode DISCOURSE is back, so instead of arguing about what it is and isn't, please read my story on
@IGN
featuring actual accessibility developers and experts discussing the nuances behind this incredibly deep topic.
And before anyone jumps on me, yes, I know this is a meme. And I honestly laughed at it! But this notion that remakes are useless is going to turn into the Easy Mode debate all over again, and I'm not looking to begin my villain origin story so quickly into the new year
Calling all disabled Destiny 2 Guardians! I'm writing a story for Inverse about what it means to YOU to be able to play. Why do you play Destiny? What do you have to say to those arguing for skill-based mechanics? I'd love to hear from you! RTs appreciated!
Friendly reminder that remote work is one of the best ways to employ disabled people. I literally wouldn't be able to do my job if I had to go into an office
Many workers are now back to the office — and they’re not happy about it.
That’s partly because many return to office rules don’t make sense, and people are only coming in because they have to, not because there’s a good reason to go in. Learn more:
Arguably the biggest issue is the forced menu control scheme that CANNOT be altered. You NEED to press 'Space' and 'Escape' to confirm and exit the menu. In fact, if you can't press 'Space', you can't even access the game!
This leads into the lack of fully customizable controls. If a button corresponds with a menu action, you CANNOT rebind it. 'F' is one such key. I lost track at upwards of six buttons that can't be changed. For my limited mobility, this makes customization impossible.
Friendly reminder to hire disabled writers to talk about accessibility features in video games. No one can give a better analysis than those who actually benefit from these options
Happy New Year! For my first story of 2023, I had the opportunity to speak with Indie developers about how they successfully implement accessibility features and designs without the scope and budget of AAA studios. Read my latest
@WIRED
piece here:
I'm not going to defend myself because there is nothing to defend. My character will speak for itself, I refuse to let myself be a pawn in the grift game. Leave me out of it. My actions speak for themselves. My words, especially in the last two years where I had done a lot of…
Halo Infinite is proof that accessibility options don't create an accessible experience. I'm super excited to share with you not only my first
@FanbyteMedia
review, but also its first accessibility review!
Over the weekend, I noticed several disabled people struggle to view themselves as attractive. That's BS! Let's combat this by showing the world how cute/hot/attractive we really are, despite our limitations! Join me every Monday by posting a photo of yourself! I'll start!
Read my latest for
@IGN
here:
@Xbox
is paving the way for an inclusive future, and its recent accessibility updates and announcements are proof of not only an evolving studio, but an evolving industry.
And finally, I'm incredibly honored and humbled to announce that I won the Advocacy Award. When I first started writing, I wanted to prove to the games industry that there were more than 10 disabled people. I wanted to demonstrate the multifaceted nature of being disabled.
With all his work,
@Super_Crip1994
uses his position, not only educate on accessibility, but to uplift voices around him so there are more disabled gamers in the conversation.
He's going to say he doesn't deserve this award but we all know exactly why he does.
Hi, everyone! I'm writing a story for WIRED about the potential inaccessibility of handheld devices like the new Steam Deck and the Switch LITE. Do any of you struggle to hold these devices due to problems with arthritis? I would love to hear from you! DMs open
Speaking strictly as a disabled gamer, not journalist, it's great to see
@Xbox
consistently promote accessibility and the disabled community. Growing up, I never experienced that from a large studio. There's still so much work to be done, but it's nice to be recognized.
The accessibility needs of disabled people are incredibly vast, even with the same disability. It's perfectly okay and should be necessary to criticize a game's options/design practices even if other disabled people benefit from them.
Then there is the inability to toggle aiming. Although, I was never able to experience any of the gameplay considering that I couldn't even get out of the damn menu without assistance.
The TLOU Remake brings with it the same accessibility as Part II. Further,
@Naughty_Dog
's latest game includes a new accessibility feature that has the potential to reshape the entire industry for blind/low vision players. Read my latest for
@FanbyteMedia
:
I grew up reading this magazine. It made me want to become a journalist. And now I'm holding a physical copy while reading a story I wrote. Accessibility journalism will be mainstream.
It's been several months since Xbox and PlayStation banned third-party equipment. I'm looking to speak with disabled players who are impacted since the decision. What can you no longer use? What do you use now? RTs appreciated!
It's me! Audio Descriptive Cutscenes are not only a first for a
@Naughty_Dog
game, but also the entire industry. This feature alone has the potential to revolutionize games for blind/low vision players. I loved being able to interview ND for this piece!
My new favorite thing about Gotham Knights saying they consulted with accessibility specialists about representation is that one of the side characters is in a manual wheelchair with an electric joystick and absolutely no motor on his chair.
I've been friends with Poppy for 3 years and always enjoyed joking with her and watching her thrive. I never imagined this would turn into the healthiest relationship I've ever had.
Accessibility affects more than options in menus. The tools and systems we rely on to make games are just as important. For my latest
@WIRED
feature, I had the opportunity to interview 3 disabled voice actors. Read more here:
I'm so excited to finally share this with everyone! I had the opportunity to write the script for a new PBS Youtube show called Subcultured. My episode dealt with accessibility in games. It premiers this Wednesday and you can watch the trailer here!
I think an aspect of accessibility that we don't talk about enough is proper disability representation. Features and game design are crucial for disabled players, but so is seeing appropriate representations of ourselves in games
Remote work is one of the primary reasons why I'm able to do my job. Getting rid of it is going to remove so many disabled people from the workforce. This is bullshit
For the second time in a week, President Biden urged for an end to remote work on Friday, framing the much-delayed return to the office for millions of white-collar workers as necessary for the United States to move beyond the pandemic.
@LeonXIII
Audio Descriptive Cutscenes! They provide crucial emotional information that is often missed due to positioning and facial expressions for blind/low vision players
Xbox is also the first studio to really publicly support accessible hardware and software innovations! It's hard to adequately explain how important it is that they are actually using the resources to create accessible products
Super honored to announce that I am the recipient of the
@GA_Conf
Best Journalism award for my
@inversedotcom
article detailing mental health accessibility. Accessibility journalism is crucial for the advancement of this industry, and I can't thank everyone enough.
Best Journalism going once again to
@Super_Crip1994
, for his piece for Inverse - "Danger Dumplings": How Arachnophobia Inspired a New Type of Gaming Innovation
Thanks so much for letting me speak with you
@Bungie
! When we get to normalize accessibility and the disabled perspective, we're one step closer to having an inclusive industry. ALSO, be sure to follow everyone I've listed at the end of the article!
When I talk about normalizing accessibility coverage, a big part of that is to include disabled members of the media at events. This isn't related to jealousy, but if we are to TRULY shift away from inspirational coverage, disabled people NEED to have a seat at the table.
Okay, let's have a talk. Unfortunately, I will no longer be reviewing Horizon Forbidden West. The adaptive PS5 controller that I designed and purchased cannot accommodate my specific needs. This is the reality that many disabled people face. Join me for a thread.
I'm going to make a thread about a personal accessibility update in the coming days, but until then, please know that if something isn't accessible to you, that DOES NOT mean it's inaccessible to everyone else. Accessibility achievements should always be celebrated.
Grant Stoner (
@Super_Crip1994
) lives with a neuromuscular disability and in this latest column shares his journey with modded accessible controllers before they were easily available.
TotK offers no accessibility options, a stark contrast to most modern AAA games. But its use of design practices demonstrate that accessibility and the disabled experience are not one-dimensional and Nintendo can still be accessible. Read my latest Access Designed here:
The latest Legend of Zelda adventure nails mosts things, but it falls short if you're a disabled player. Here's what Tears of the Kingdom gets right – and wrong – about accessibility.
Starfield is less than two months away, and while many are anticipating Bethesda's next game, disabled players are concerned. With little accessibility information revealed thus far, they aren't sure if they can even play. Read my latest
@IGN
report here:
I love the conversations surrounding VR, but there needs to be disabled voices included. Some will love the new system, others still can't play it. If VR is one of the core components of gaming, we need all perspectives, even if disabled people are critical
The latest
@Xbox
racing sim adds several new features that seek to eliminate barriers for blind/low vision players. Blind Driving Assists are the newest example of the continuous evolution of accessibility. Read my first report for the
@IGN
news team here:
I THOUGHT WE AGREED TO NOT HAVE THE DIFFICULTY DISCOURSE. Seriously though, if you're having these conversations, PLEASE include disabled/accessibility voices front and center, not just as mentions
For The Verge, myself and several other accessibility journalists in tech and gaming discussed the state of our respective industries. In short, there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON why publications can't have dedicated accessibility staff writers and editors.
A new article is up! With it being SMA Awareness Month, I wrote about the progressive nature my disability and how it's affected my gaming over the years. I hope you enjoy this pretty personal piece on
@FanbyteMedia
!