[games_access] games_access Digest, Vol 152, Issue 8

Fri May 27 17:00:09 EDT 2016

Oh, good! The ADA having this covered already is certainly a boon for us.
Thank you for correcting me, Ian! :D And for letting me know that Kate is a
good point of contact for finding the survey people. I appreciate it!

On Fri, May 27, 2016 at 1:41 PM, Ian Hamilton <i_h at hotmail.com> wrote:

> I assume Kate would be first port of call for getting more detail on the
> data, if nothing else she'll definitely know who the best person to talk to
> would be.
>
> ADA has it covered - "a person who has a physical or mental impairment
> that substantially limits one or more major life activities"
>
> Not sure about other countries outside of UK/USA, but the UK has a very
> similar definition -
> https://www.gov.uk/definition-of-disability-under-equality-act-2010.
>
> Ian
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Gabby Taylor <mittenstehkitty at gmail.com>
> Date: 27/05/2016 18:02 (GMT+00:00)
> To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List <games_access at igda.org>
> Subject: Re: [games_access] games_access Digest, Vol 152, Issue 8
>
> This outpouring of support for this effort is awesome! Thank you all!!
>
> @Ian: I've already downloaded the 2015 survey results, and I've been
> trying to analyze it to see how we can get more detailed data and who to
> talk to about all that. I believe we should also consider a similar survey
> conducted to see how employers see disability support in their respective
> studios/departments (and perhaps any limitations to what they're willing to
> provide/see in their studio, especially since the ADA doesn't cover
> accommodations for mental and emotional disabilities, if I remember
> correctly). Workplace accessibility needs to be a team effort between
> employees and employers, if it's to come to fruition and be viewed in a
> positive light. Do any of you have suggestions on how we can conduct this
> in a way that would provide honest feedback (even bad things will help
> paint a clearer picture of what we're dealing with).
>
> @Barrie: I agree with you here; both hardware and software solutions that
> would make using some of this software less of a pain to use would be
> great! Frankly, I'm not even sure where to start on that besides marco'd
> keypads, but it is certainly something we need to put a lot of work into.
> As for the clear resource, do you think a website or something similar
> would suffice?
>
> @Brandon: Thank you for pointing me to that forum! It's very informative
> and should provide another great source of feedback as to how we can help
> them.
>
> @Michelle: I'm glad to have your help! I agree, a separate listing for the
> support group would be ideal. I was also thinking of perhaps setting up
> some sort of system for people who will only talk anonymously for fear of
> social or employment consequences. We'll definitely have to work hard to
> counter this anti-disability thinking that seems so prevalent, but until
> then it's important that people know they can seek help without thinking it
> will negatively affect their career.
>
> It seems there's a lot of ground to cover, but hopefully this is a step
> toward a more accessible and open industry for everyone! Again, thank you
> all. :)
>
>
>
> On Fri, May 27, 2016 at 10:28 AM, Michelle Hinn <michellehinn at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Yes it's only natural that we grow in this way to encourage career
>> support and accessible tools for game creation. And covering both can
>> easily help all the SIG goals with good communication and periodic reports
>> to all other SIG projects. I'm excited about this - I always wanted us to
>> someday have enough help to get the ball rolling on adding the other half
>> of our mission statement!
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On May 27, 2016, at 9:18 AM, Barrie Ellis <barrie.ellis at oneswitch.org.uk>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Fine initiative. Something that a number of people have said to me, who
>> use switches to access their computer, is that they would love a clear
>> resource pointing to the easier tools for game creation (Game Maker, Twine
>> etc.) with ready to adapt templates (especially with some accessibility
>> features in-place).
>>
>> Something really important for the tools themselves, for such users would
>> be for them to have ways to make them less fiddly / laborious to use. No
>> small task, but important.
>>
>> Barrie
>>
>>
>> On 27 May 2016 at 10:39, Ian Hamilton <i_h at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> I don't think I can make it over unfortunately, but I think that Javier
>>> Mairena is based in Madrid now? Also Javier Torrente is a pretty prolific
>>> accessibility academic who used to be in Madrid, although I think he might
>>> have moved to London now.
>>>
>>>
>>> Gabby, the best source of data currently is the IGDA developer
>>> satisfaction survey, which is a general developer survey of that in 2015
>>> covered around 3000 developers:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> http://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.igda.org/resource/collection/CB31CE86-F8EE-4AE3-B46A-148490336605/IGDA%20DSS%202015-SummaryReport_Final_Sept15.pdf
>>>
>>> Here's the section on disability:
>>>
>>> *Snapshot: Disability *
>>>
>>>
>>> *This year, 22% of respondents identified as having a disability; 6%
>>> declined to respond and 2% said they did not know. This is in line with
>>> statistics for the populations of the countries primarily represented in
>>> this survey. Among those who reported one or more disabilities, the largest
>>> disability listed was psychiatric and mental illness, which represented 9%
>>> of respondents. The next largest disability category was for visual
>>> impairment and represented 6%. The third most listed disability was
>>> physical in nature, with 4% of respondents identifying this way. This is in
>>> line with reported 2010 statistics for the population of the United States
>>> where 19% reported having a disability, broadly defined. *I'm sure they
>>> wouldn't mind providing the full detailed data that they have on it. That's
>>> from the 2015 survey, the 2016 survey results will be available in August.
>>>
>>> Although support for disabled developers is part of the
>>> accessibility SIG's mission statement, once momentum gathers it might be
>>> nice to see it as a dedicated SIG, in the same way as the other diversity
>>> SIGS - the women in games SIG and the LBGTQ+ SIG? For example the safe
>>> discussion space being a separate mail list / linked in group etc to the
>>> accessibility one?
>>>
>>> Ian
>>>
>>> ------------------------------
>>> *From:* games_access <games_access-bounces at igda.org> on behalf of
>>> Michelle Hinn <michellehinn at gmail.com>
>>> *Sent:* 27 May 2016 08:17
>>> *To:* IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List
>>> *Subject:* Re: [games_access] games_access Digest, Vol 152, Issue 8
>>>
>>> I'm excited to be working on the expansion of the SIG with Gabby! Yeah,
>>> I wasn't gone -- just dealing with some biopsies on my back that could not
>>> wait. I've been working behind the scenes though -- the SIG mailing list
>>> bug reports and subscription notices go through me! :)
>>>
>>> On a side note -- anyone in the SIG going to be in Spain the week of
>>> June 9th - 16th? I'll be in Madrid, Granada, and Barcelona (and before that
>>> Lisbon (June 4-9)  for my husband's genetics conference). If so let me know
>>> -- it would be great to have drinks!
>>>
>>> Michelle
>>>
>>> On Fri, May 27, 2016 at 2:57 AM, Thomas Westin <thomas at westin.nu> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Welcome Gabby!
>>>>
>>>> This is an important contribution to the SIG's focus on game
>>>> accessibility, and Michelle Hinn has volunteered to join in on this! Great
>>>> to have you back Michelle – or, OK, you’ve always been here :)
>>>>
>>>> Best,
>>>> Thomas
>>>>
>>>> > 27May 2016 kl. 07:23 skrev <games_access-request at igda.org> <
>>>> games_access-request at igda.org>:
>>>> >
>>>> > Send games_access mailing list submissions to
>>>> >       games_access at igda.org
>>>> >
>>>> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>>>> >       https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>>> > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>>>> >       games_access-request at igda.org
>>>> >
>>>> > You can reach the person managing the list at
>>>> >       games_access-owner at igda.org
>>>> >
>>>> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>>>> > than "Re: Contents of games_access digest..."
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > Today's Topics:
>>>> >
>>>> >   1. Introduction and Open Question (Gabby Taylor)
>>>> >   2. Re: Introduction and Open Question (Brandon Keith Biggs)
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>> >
>>>> > Message: 1
>>>> > Date: Thu, 26 May 2016 23:04:14 -0400
>>>> > From: Gabby Taylor <mittenstehkitty at gmail.com>
>>>> > To: games_access at igda.org
>>>> > Subject: [games_access] Introduction and Open Question
>>>> > Message-ID:
>>>> >       <CAN+8F-wqf-sjC=oUM=
>>>> bhBg4Jyu+7RzY+sACHUSOdNNosTqfqvg at mail.gmail.com>
>>>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>>>> >
>>>> > Hi everyone! I hope you're all doing well.
>>>> >
>>>> > My name is Gabby and I am looking to start a formalized effort to
>>>> provide
>>>> > support for disabled game developers within the Game Accessibility
>>>> SIG.
>>>> > Considering the overlap between disabled developers and disabled
>>>> gamers, I
>>>> > feel like this won't be too out of line with the hard work you
>>>> wonderful
>>>> > people have already put forth.
>>>> >
>>>> > To kick this off, I'd like to get your input on how we should start
>>>> this
>>>> > endeavor: I feel it is best to gather information on what kinds of
>>>> > disabilities are represented in the industry and how they are
>>>> currently
>>>> > supported (if applicable) to give us an idea of where and how we can
>>>> make
>>>> > improvements to best effect. I also believe that creating a safe
>>>> space for
>>>> > disabled game developers and our allies to talk in a confidential,
>>>> > supportive environment would be of great benefit for brainstorming
>>>> more
>>>> > solutions.
>>>> >
>>>> > I'm very excited to hear all of your opinions, and to begin working
>>>> with
>>>> > you to let the game industry be as inclusive and open to all as the
>>>> games
>>>> > we create.
>>>> >
>>>> > Thank you,
>>>> > Gabby Taylor
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>>>> >
>>>> > ------------------------------
>>>> >
>>>> > Message: 2
>>>> > Date: Thu, 26 May 2016 22:17:30 -0700
>>>> > From: Brandon Keith Biggs <brandonkeithbiggs at gmail.com>
>>>> > To: IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List <games_access at igda.org>
>>>> > Subject: Re: [games_access] Introduction and Open Question
>>>> > Message-ID:
>>>> >       <
>>>> CAKAWQkVZ4B7J9Qz6FLr7rKBj2OUs0q-MpCJyM8Z4uuHHUipTYg at mail.gmail.com>
>>>> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>>>> >
>>>> > Hello Gabby,
>>>> > There are blind game developers at:
>>>> > http://forum.audiogames.net/viewforum.php?id=28
>>>> > Not sure about other disabilities though.
>>>> > Thanks,
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > Brandon Keith Biggs <http://brandonkeithbiggs.com/>
>>>> >
>>>> > On Thu, May 26, 2016 at 8:04 PM, Gabby Taylor <
>>>> mittenstehkitty at gmail.com>
>>>> > wrote:
>>>> >
>>>> >> Hi everyone! I hope you're all doing well.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> My name is Gabby and I am looking to start a formalized effort to
>>>> provide
>>>> >> support for disabled game developers within the Game Accessibility
>>>> SIG.
>>>> >> Considering the overlap between disabled developers and disabled
>>>> gamers, I
>>>> >> feel like this won't be too out of line with the hard work you
>>>> wonderful
>>>> >> people have already put forth.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> To kick this off, I'd like to get your input on how we should start
>>>> this
>>>> >> endeavor: I feel it is best to gather information on what kinds of
>>>> >> disabilities are represented in the industry and how they are
>>>> currently
>>>> >> supported (if applicable) to give us an idea of where and how we can
>>>> make
>>>> >> improvements to best effect. I also believe that creating a safe
>>>> space for
>>>> >> disabled game developers and our allies to talk in a confidential,
>>>> >> supportive environment would be of great benefit for brainstorming
>>>> more
>>>> >> solutions.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> I'm very excited to hear all of your opinions, and to begin working
>>>> with
>>>> >> you to let the game industry be as inclusive and open to all as the
>>>> games
>>>> >> we create.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Thank you,
>>>> >> Gabby Taylor
>>>> >>
>>>> >> _______________________________________________
>>>> >> games_access mailing list
>>>> >> games_access at igda.org
>>>> >> https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>>> >> The main SIG website page is http://igda-gasig.org
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
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>>>> >
>>>> > ------------------------------
>>>> >
>>>> > Subject: Digest Footer
>>>> >
>>>> > _______________________________________________
>>>> > games_access mailing list
>>>> > games_access at igda.org
>>>> > https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>>> > The main SIG website page is http://igda-gasig.org
>>>> >
>>>> > ------------------------------
>>>> >
>>>> > End of games_access Digest, Vol 152, Issue 8
>>>> > ********************************************
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> games_access mailing list
>>>> games_access at igda.org
>>>> https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>>> The main SIG website page is http://igda-gasig.org
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> games_access mailing list
>>> games_access at igda.org
>>> https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>>> The main SIG website page is http://igda-gasig.org
>>>
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> games_access mailing list
>> games_access at igda.org
>> https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>> The main SIG website page is http://igda-gasig.org
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> games_access mailing list
>> games_access at igda.org
>> https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
>> The main SIG website page is http://igda-gasig.org
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> games_access mailing list
> games_access at igda.org
> https://pairlist7.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/games_access
> The main SIG website page is http://igda-gasig.org
>
>
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