Hi Bryan, Unfortunately, I don't think even that would change anyones mind. Given the fact the average person's view of blindness is pretty limited in scope. They just assume we are in someway helpless, can't play games, can't do this, can't do that,etc all because the average sighted person out there has no idea how we live or what we can do. Sometimes they don't even think we can answer a simple question for ourselves. Case in point. I can't even tell you how many times I have gone out on a date, went to eat with a friend, or whatever and the person taking our order asks my companion "what would I like to have?" I don't know about you, but I personally find that extremely insulting. With those kinds of attitudes and general reactions to someone who is blind it is no wonder we can't convince the mainstream companies to take us seriously. I pretty much know what they are thinking weather it is said or unsaid. A couple of months ago i remember how some people took the news on Game Spot regarding the news Sony was going to be sued over game accessibility. The reactions generally were the law suit is stupid, how can a blind person play games, there is no way to make games accessible for a blind person, etc. They were wrong, of course, but that is the kind of stereotypical reaction we have to put up with. It isn't just the fact we have to convince a company to do it, but we have to somehow convince people we can do exactly the same kinds of things they do, live a similar life style, but just in a slightly different way. In other words we have to somehow get beyond their idiotic beliefs about blindness. However, getting back to your question about the game company CEO who suddenly goes blind I don't think games is going to rank high on his list. His first reaction is going to be like, "how am I going to live like this. I'm blind. I cant' do anything. I'm helpless." Speaking from personal experience those are generally a sighted persons initial reactions to the discovery of losing his/her sight. They will learn to cope with it, get back to living a productive life after a year or two of rehab, but those first few months are going to be a downward spiral into depression, fear, and worry. After that maybe, just maybe, he'll be interested in creating accessible games, but he is now in the position of trying to convince his associates of that fact who probibly won't be that eager to take up his cause.
> ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bryan Peterson" <[email protected]> > To: "Gamers Discussion list" <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 8:28 PM > Subject: Re: [Audyssey] accessible game companies with offices > > >> I'd like to see the CEO, the head honcho of one of these major gaming >> companies go blind and see what happens then. Probably nothing but it's >> worth imagining. >> We are the Knights who say...Ni! --- Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to [email protected]. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to [email protected].
