Creating an Accessible Workspace: How to Make Gamedev Accessible to You

This was originally a talk given on 12/7/2022 for Code Coven. As I retain my rights to it, this is the blog version! Minor changes are made due to the focus being reading instead of my speaking, and yes! Aside, from those changes, this is the script I used, though the talk itself did include Q&A as well as other interactive elements. I will not be including those elements.

Formalities aside, I hope this post, and the goodies you’ll find at the end will help folks with creating an accessible workspace, so they can make games (or anything really) in a way that works with their needs.

First of course, a little about myself, that’ll lead back to the main goal. I got into game dev via my college. At the time, Becker College was, well for one thing still running, but also had a game program that matched the type of 3D art I wanted to learn. It was in this program I had my first real brush with accessibility devices. See, around one of my finals, I ran into carpal tunnel. BAD carpal tunnel that effected both wrists. I got it from rigging a model and ended up unable to work on my 3D art 101 final. The professor was lenient fortunately, but most importantly he introduced me to a nifty little device. A vertical mouse, the second accessibility device recommended to me, (the first being glasses way back in third grade) and the start of how I made my workspace work for me.

For those who don’t know, a vertical mouse is a form of ergonomic device, aka a device that doesn’t stress the hands and wrists as well. We often hear about them, but the words “accessibility” or “disability” rarely comes up. I digress!

Fast forward another couple years and it turns out my tendency to get carpal tunnel was likely related to something known as Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disorder which I like to jokingly call, “When It’s All In Your Head is Technically Right But Also Still Hurts.” Essentially my brain thinks there’s pain, so fires off the nerves even though there’s no actual reason to.

I didn’t have a diagnosis though. Really, I was mostly going off the fact my mom had it. I didn’t believe a diagnosis was worth it, as I needed to work part time at a food place in order to pay rent. What were they going to tell me, to stop doing as much running around? I didn’t have the option to not work. Of course, now I know that’s not true. (Turns out my mom just had awful rheumatologists.) But at the time I pushed myself to work with no accessibility devices, nothing to help, no knowledge of the disability community. Just stubbornness.

Turns out that stubbornness combined with unfair societal structures worsened my fibromyalgia. While I eventually left that particular food place for a better food place, then eventually left food altogether, my body was worn down. On top of that, it turns out I have a whole bunch of mental disorders that effect my ability to get work done! Who’d a thunk?

By this point though, I had moved in with an aunt and uncle who are still kind enough to let me stay. An Uncle who has a similar type of ADHD to me, and an Aunt with Muscular Dystrophy, her own physical disability and her own issues. These relatives taught me, what I hope I can help teach y’all. That accessibility devices come in a wide range, and can be personalized for each of you.

Even if you don’t see yourself as disabled, having this knowledge, and even using accessibility devices can help make work easier for yourself, and make stuff cheaper for disabled people.

But first let’s back up. What is an accessibility device? Simply put, it’s something that helps provide access that didn’t exist before. This actually includes a lot of things, from strictly medical devices, to everyday household objects. The armchair I’m sitting in is an accessibility device, as is the corset I’m wearing, and I already mentioned the mouse.

Additionally, remote work allowing for more flexible hours is accessibility in itself, as it means it’s possible to go to necessary doctors appointments, get enough sleep even when on strange sleep schedules, and importantly for what’ll be discussed, customize your own workspace.

It’s a matter of considering what your needs are, and how to go from there. This can be done for all sorts of things, but since this is a game dev talk, we’re going to focus on that.

I’m going to use myself as an example, of how to break down needs, and find solutions, but know that this is for the process. If my examples help, great! But my needs may not be your needs.

So let’s see. I’m a tech artist. In order to do my job I need to be at my computer for several hours a day. I need to meet dealings, I need to be present in meetings, and I need to be able to use a mouse and keyboard.

I know what I have to do now, so what are my needs?

Well, as mentioned before, I have ADHD, and Fibromyalgia. This means my brain has difficulty with long term projects, I’m forgetful, I can have trouble paying attention, I’m prone to carpal tunnel, and I ache all the time which can cause exhaustion. No seriously, I think I’m at a four on the pain scale right now, and I’m lucky. Also I do have meds, which are helpful for the most part but my ADHD meds don’t really help with the whole “forgetting to eat” part of ADHD.

All of these things make being a game dev more difficult.

In any case, we’ve got what I have to do, and some ways my body gets in the way of that. Time to troubleshoot. Here’s what I’ve come up with, but feel free to consider your own solutions.

Brain’s Difficulty With Long Term Projects: reframe tasks as mini projects, milestone rewards, don’t plan TOO far out ahead.

Forgetfullness: google calender, notebook for ideas, using the sticky notes feature windows comes with

Trouble Paying Attention: keep fidgets nearby, take meeting notes, doodle,

Carpal Tunnel: wrist braces, vertical mouse, compression gloves,

Pain: meds, armchair, heating pad, corset (back pain, aids in better posture)

Exhaustion: set up a backlog of low energy tasks for bad days,

Forgetting to Eat: snack drawer, minifridge with fruit & healthy snacks

As you can see, every issue comes with multiple solutions, and these aren’t even all of them. It takes trial and error. It can take talking with members of the disability community about what worked for them.

It also takes a bit of a mindset changing. You need to take a hard look at yourself, and how you’re not “normal” which is…rough. It can definitely be rough. But you’re not alone. In addition, you have to put your brain into problem solving mode. If x is difficult, what solutions are there? And on top of that, you need to accept that it’s okay to need this extra help. These extra things. It’s not easy, and it’ll take a lot of scolding that part of your brain that complains, but it is doable.

And if you’re not disabled? You can still do this. It normalizes it, and to be honest, if it helps you? That’s awesome! Life should be easier, not harder.

Now, what do you do if you work for a studio which requires you to go into an office? While fortunately less common these days, it can still happen. Unfortunately, you may have less options. The ADA only goes so far, and getting accommodations may require telling your boss you’re disabled, which may unfortunately lead to being fired.

All is not lost however. You may just have to be more subtle about things. Fortunately, buzzwords like the previously mentioned ‘ergonomic’ can help with obtaining better desk chairs, keyboards, and mice. You can request a hybrid or remote environment under the cover of covid precautions, especially if you live with children or an at risk individual. And while fashionable compression gloves are thin on the ground, the company Sparthos and the disabled artist Bibipins can help make it seem like you’re just making a fashion statement.

And now we’re where I went into Q&A, but wait, there’s more! I’m providing a dropbox link that includes the presentation I used, a text doc of links to helpful things I mentioned, and two free worksheets. One is solely on the bread and butter of this whole thing: breaking down goals, needs, and the how in a table. The second is a series of journaling prompts to aid in reaching a mindset where you can more easily be okay with using accessibility devices, as well as figure out what you need. I do want to be clear however, I am not a licensed mental health professional, and much like journaling to aid in positivity, these are just informal tools.

That said, these prompts are asking you to consider how you personally view yourself, view disabled people, and view accessibility devices. The goal with these prompts is to break down the barriers created by our society, a society that hates disabled people.

Thank you once again to Code Coven for giving me the chance to talk! This was certainly an atypical talk, but one I hope proves helpful to folks. If folks have questions, or want to connect, they can check the contacts page on my site for various ways to connect with me.

Oh! And one last thing, if you found this post helpful, you can drop a tip on my ko-fi, pick up some game assets on my itch.io page, or order something from my redbubble. These are all ways to support me financially! Additionally, monthly supporters to my ko-fi get bonus goodies upon subscribing, and there may be more in the future as I get around to updating things!