Abletop - Episode 5 - Communication Accessibility

Ctrl, Alt, Access

Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 01:47 - Communication-Based Games 11:24 - Abstraction of Communication 18:09 - Visual Communication 26:58 - Improv Games 35:22 - Social Deduction & Hidden Roles 48:40 - Dyslexia & Literacy 54:05 - Alternative Communication 56:59 - Outro Quick Points 📝 Provide options to use different communication methods, like verbal or text-based. 😶 Consider supporting play without verbal communication, by default or as a variant. 📈 Give levels of difficulty in games where speech is not allowed, such as allowing some speech, one word, gestures. 📈 Give levels of difficulty in communication-abstraction games, such as giving more options to pick from or ways to focus the clue. 🎨 Avoid a reliance on colour for visual communication games. 🎤 Social pressure to roleplay, be funny or be quick-witted can be a huge barrier. Consider ways to support or reduce social pressures if possible. 💜 For improv games, consider providing more specific hint cards or fall-back options for players who struggle with improv. ❌ Provide a no-judgement ‘out’ to end a round early if things are getting too much. ☝️ Consider if your game could use interruption mechanics to give less confident players a mechanical way to take the wheel. 🕵️ If possible, make hidden roles optional to your game to make it approachable to more people. 🎭 Deception is difficult for some players, consider how the mechanics of your game can help support deception or provide a way for individuals to opt out of deceptive roles. 🛣️ If the game keeps going after roles have been revealed, set clear expectations in the rules that it is likely or inevitable. For longer games, ensure revealed players still feel like they have an impact at the table. 🎛️ Make rules variants, like having roles all revealed or no talking between players, to alleviate or omit some of the social pressures. 📱Provide ways or tools to help anonymity (companion app, one player presents all options, etc) where it is important for player-submitted parts. 🔤 Where spelling is important, allow spell-checking devices at the table. ⏳ Remove timed elements or provide extra time for players who struggle with writing and/or spelling. 🤟 Provide ASL / BSL guidance for communication in your game if possible. 💬 Overall, provide ways to reduce speech or support alternative communication methods.