Let's unlock a new future,
together.
Who We Are
Accessibility Unlocked is a group of like minded individuals, all eager to change the shape of game development in Australia & New Zealand. Made up of disabled, neurodiverse, gender diverse, queer and allies, we believe in raising the profile, awareness, connections, and understanding of accessibility in the games industry, especially locally.
Our focus is to connect disabled developers in ANZ with resources, opportunities, conversations - and each other.
For too long, developers have been afraid to admit their accessibility needs - whether mental, emotional, physical, financial, or otherwise. The risks to employment and opportunity were deemed too high, and instead we suffer in silence, burning out and leaving the industry as our needs aren’t met. Our aim to support those developers in being part of the industry, providing them, their managers, and their team members with ways to help them succeed. On the flip side, abled developers and managers can be afraid of engaging with accessibility needs of their audience or team, scared of the potential to offend or to make the wrong move. We want to break down the barriers between these audiences, and encourage open and positive conversation.
We view our role as that of a linchpin - we’re here as a resource and connecting body to industry and those outside it. Our intersections and understanding of accessibility needs are limited to our personal experiences - which while broad, don’t cover every potential need a developer may have, and every person is different. We aim to connect people to the right people for the right conversations, and the right resources. As a volunteer run organisation, we provide a foundation, can answer questions you may be uncomfortable or unsure about asking publicly, and point you to the right people for questions we can’t or shouldn’t answer.
Our focus is to connect disabled developers in ANZ with resources, opportunities, conversations - and each other.
For too long, developers have been afraid to admit their accessibility needs - whether mental, emotional, physical, financial, or otherwise. The risks to employment and opportunity were deemed too high, and instead we suffer in silence, burning out and leaving the industry as our needs aren’t met. Our aim to support those developers in being part of the industry, providing them, their managers, and their team members with ways to help them succeed. On the flip side, abled developers and managers can be afraid of engaging with accessibility needs of their audience or team, scared of the potential to offend or to make the wrong move. We want to break down the barriers between these audiences, and encourage open and positive conversation.
We view our role as that of a linchpin - we’re here as a resource and connecting body to industry and those outside it. Our intersections and understanding of accessibility needs are limited to our personal experiences - which while broad, don’t cover every potential need a developer may have, and every person is different. We aim to connect people to the right people for the right conversations, and the right resources. As a volunteer run organisation, we provide a foundation, can answer questions you may be uncomfortable or unsure about asking publicly, and point you to the right people for questions we can’t or shouldn’t answer.
What We Do
- Connect disabled developers within the community to each other as a support system, network, and act as a reminder that we’re not alone.
- Act as a contact point for resources and community, that is Australia and NZ based, focusing on some of the local challenges and opportunities.
- Connect abled developers with disabled devs and players, to further accessibility discussions and successes in making more games playable for all.
- Provide assistance to events organizers and organisations across the games industry to provide better opportunities, support, and accessibility to their events and initiatives
- Occasionally consult on our own intersections of disability and act as accessibility consultants for different games studios, companies, and organizations in Australia/NZ and around the world
Meet the Team
Core Team
Past and Present Collaborators
Resources
We've compiled a list of useful online resources for devs, to help make your accessibility journey smoother.
We recognise that there is differences in community in how they prefer to be referred to - whether identity first or person first. We've used identity first here, but we recognise this is not everyone's first choice! If you can, ask someone their preference, and try and respect that. We do however, avoid language that is dehumanizing, as well as some terms such as "differently abled", "special needs", "handicapped" and so on.
This list is not exhaustive, but it's a great starting point. If you need someting specific, feel free to get in touch and we can point you in the right direction.
Accessibility for Games:
We recognise that there is differences in community in how they prefer to be referred to - whether identity first or person first. We've used identity first here, but we recognise this is not everyone's first choice! If you can, ask someone their preference, and try and respect that. We do however, avoid language that is dehumanizing, as well as some terms such as "differently abled", "special needs", "handicapped" and so on.
This list is not exhaustive, but it's a great starting point. If you need someting specific, feel free to get in touch and we can point you in the right direction.
Accessibility for Games:
- Game Accessibility Guidelines - A set of guidelines on how to design for disabled people ranging from basic to more niche features
- Accessible Games - A set of resources on games accessibility from AbleGamers
- Demystifying CVAA - An explanation of the CVAA, an accessibility legislation in the United States relating to games and other media
- Accessible Player Experiences - A resource for design patterns that can be used to make games more accessible
- IDEA Working Group Accessibility Resource Overview 2022 - A variety of resources across many areas of Accessibility.
Accessibility for Websites:
- A11y Project - A resource for web accessibility
- Tota11y - A toolkit used for accessibility testing a website
- Google Lighthouse - A toolkit used for accessibility testing a website that is inbuilt into Google Chrome
- 13 Ways To Up Your Websites Accessibility - A handy list of ways you can improve your web accessibility
Why to make Games more Accessible:
- Accessibility - The Curb Cut Effect - Extra Credits: An introduction to game accessibility, tips for implementing it, and why it is necessary
- A Fraught Love Letter To The Games Industry From A Disabled Gamer - A speech on why game accessibility matters from accessibility consultant Cherry Thompson
- Making Games Inclusive of Disabled People - A detailed talk of improvements you can make to be inclusive in your game experience by co-founder Cameron Hopkinson
- It’s Designers who can Make Gaming More Accessible for People Living with Disabilities - The Conversation: A case for game developers taking a more proactive role in making games more accessible
- Simple Ways to Make Video Games More Accessible - Level Access: Some of the basic steps that can be taken to make a game more accessible
- Why Game Accessibility Matters - Polygon: A feature on the importance of game accessibility including stories about disabled gamers
- Barriers To A Better Life - A comic explanation about disabled New Zealanders and the effects being disabled has on their lives
- Do All Disabled People Think The Same? - A video exploring the ways in which different people consider disability
Resources for Disabled Developers:
- “This Is What Disabled Looks Like”: The Sometimes Hard-To-See Line Between Visible and Invisible Disabilities - A discussion on invisible disabilities and how someone may be disabled despite appearances
- Fate Accessibility Toolkit - An add-on for the RPG Fate Core for disabled characters, a useful reference for other games as well
- What I Know About: Being Sick at Work - Advice on how to go about discussing accessibility and accommodations in the workplace
- UK Home Office Accessibility Posters - Office Posters to educate on accessibility needs and show your workplace is welcoming
- Disability Discrimination - Information on the Disability Discrimination Act in Australia
- Employment for Disabled People - Resources for disabled people navigating the workplace in New Zealand
- Autism: A Thread - A thread exploring one individuals experiences with autism and finding work
- IGDA-GASIG YouTube Channel - features talks from almost every Games Accessibility Conference: run by developers, for developers
Accessibility for Events:
- An Organizers Guide To Pronoun Buttons - Running an event for disabled people or queer individuals? Check out this guide, and further resources from Queerly Represent Me, on how to represent pronouns. Showing inclusion of other marginalized groups helps to show you care about MANY marginalized groups and sets people a little more at ease
- Australian Network on Disability Event Accessibility Checklist - Ways to ensure your event is more inclusive
- Meetings & Events Australia guide to Accessible Events
- Disability WA Guide to Accessible Events
Get In Touch
Whether you’ve got a question, an idea, or a concern - feel free to send us a message below!