Introduction
To create accessible game experiences, players with disabilities should be included throughout the development process. This involvement is critical in informing accessibility features that truly meet the needs of the players who use them.
As a developer, you might have concerns about involving the user community during early development. Factors like confidentiality, launch delays, and extra costs can contribute to these concerns. But without this community involvement, there's no guarantee that the final product effectively provides an accessible experience.
Consider the following scenario: A developer creates a set of color-blind filters for an upcoming game. The feature is released without any input from players who are color-blind. Post-release, the team receives negative feedback. The filters intended to support these players instead made the game's UI even harder to see. The developer wasn't aware that implementation of color-blind filters isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. Had the developer worked with the community during feature development, they would have known to provide customizable options within the filter settings to meet the needs of individual players.
Without the insights of the disability community, a developer must make assumptions about proper feature implementation. Sometimes, these assumptions miss the mark.
In this module, learn about the importance of collaborating with the disability community throughout the development process to inform accessible design. You learn about how these communities can be engaged, and when. You also learn how to ensure that these players have a great experience throughout this collaboration.
Learning objectives
After completing this module, you can:
- Describe the meaning of the concept of "nothing about us without us." This concept promotes the inclusion of disability perspectives in accessible design.
- Identify ways to connect with the disability community to gather feedback.
- Implement best practice etiquette during collaborative sessions.