[games_access] BBC digital curriculum looking to come to your GDC Workshop

[Jonathan Hassell]

Hi IGDA folks,

I'm new to this list, but have been really relieved to find it, as we have much in common...

I work in London for BBC jam - a £150 million serious games project, to create eLearning materials for 5-16 year old children in the UK. You can see the sort of things we do by going to www.bbc.co.uk/jam. You'll see closed captions, and the ability to change font size/colour, in our games already. Switch access is proving harder, but we're on our way...

My job is to make all of our materials as accessible as possible for children with disabilities. I do this in two ways - to try and make each game as accessible as possible to all children; and to commission new games which are targeted to help specific groups of disabled children, where needed. So, for instance, we are looking at how soundscape techniques (as used in Grizzly Gulch, Shades of Doom, Terraformers etc.) can be used to help us allow blind children to learn and apply science skills. And much, much more.

I'm hoping to come to the GDC Tutorial on Monday, and would love to meet as many of you who are going as possible, to get to know you, and kick around some ideas. Think of this as your most recent chance to "help governments (and game commissioners) understand the possibilities of accessible games for learning" (from your 2005 paper), in the UK at least...

My current plan is to arrive in San Jose on Saturday night, in good time to get to the workshop on Monday. I'll be returning to the UK on the Tuesday.

I want to use my time well while I'm in town, so if anyone's available to meet on the Sunday, or the Monday evening after the workshop, I'd be really delighted to meet you. Otherwise, I'll see you at the workshop.

Best ways to get in touch with me: email (jonathan.hassell at bbc.co.uk), or mobile (+44 7919 343686 - getting this sorted for the US today).

Looking forward to meeting you all.

Best regards

Jonathan.

Jonathan Hassell
Accessibility Editor, Digital Curriculum
BBC
Rm 2365 | White City | 201 Wood Lane | London W12 7TR
Landline: 020 8752 4271. Mobile: 07919 343686.
jonathan.hassell at bbc.co.uk



http://www.bbc.co.uk/

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