[games_access] What Would You Like to See on Our Website?

Mon Nov 15 11:00:15 EST 2010

For me, I am constantly around people who have no idea about  
accessibility.  Like, don't know the definition sort of don't know. A  
problem I have always ran into is I start talking to teachers, who  
want to share the information with their students. They ask for a  
website or something to help them, and there a bunch- but not  
anything that covers the basics to show their class or to link them  
to. So then they just ask me to come speak because they feel like  
they don't know enough about it, but want their students to learn.  
Then I come in and start talking, students seem interested... but I  
don't want to join a mailing list or look through forums or search  
through the blog... They want something simple. Being able to walk in  
and be like- here is a place where you can find all the basics- and  
then links to other stuff when you've mastered that would be super  
helpful.

Here's an example of how I'm currently working with students:

  I am working with some students for a project for the Orlando  
Science Center's Otronicon (it's like a video game education week for  
all ages. It is being sponsored by UCF and EA Tiburon). It's a really  
nice symbiotic relationship. I tell students I need accessible games.  
I put the word out to local gaming colleges that I will be accepting  
the 3 most accessible games submitted (or whatever) and display them  
at Otronicon.

This does 3 things
1) Provides us with new and interesting accessibility based games to  
show off
2) Give the students a really nice portfolio piece and something to  
put on a resume
3) Teaches the future developers (today's students) to be  
accessibility aware

If we had a simple site, students interested in the accessibility  
could go to the website and poke around, find what they need, and so  
on. Like I said, the real goal is to not overwhelm. If there it too  
much accessibility will look like it's hard or time consuming and  
people won't be interested.

Sadly right now most of my communications with the students are done  
by text or Facebook message, when a lot of it is simple stuff that a  
site could cover.

Did that make sense or was I just rambling?

On a side note, I will later be sending out information about the  
first game selected to be displayed at Otronicon!

On Nov 15, 2010, at 10:33 AM, AudioGames.net wrote:

> Hi Tara,
>
> Great, finally ;) At first glance, your site page-brainstorm looks  
> as if it's going in the right direction. Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn/ 
> etc. connectivity is VITAL nowadays so I would definitely suggest  
> looking into as much functionality from that as possible. For  
> instance using OpenID, Twitter streams on the site from  
> AudioGames.net, AbleGamers, etc.
>
> *quote*
> The goal is to not overload those who are new to learning about  
> accessibility. If they read the stuff on the site, and are  
> interested in learning more, they can join the email list, check  
> out the blog, and so on. This is key since we plan on working with  
> developers, teachers and colleges- most  of whom are new and could  
> become great resources for the SIG.
> *quote end*
>
> Do you have any ideas on or can you tell me how you plan on working  
> with developers, teachers and colleges and how the website will fit  
> into this? I mean - how do you picture the website playing a role  
> for future collaborations?
>
> "Resources" - could turn out to be a pretty big page, if no the  
> biggest (at least, that's what I learned from building http:// 
> audiogames.net/page.php?pagefile=articles and http://audiogames.net/ 
> page.php?pagefile=links and http://www.game-accessibility.com/ 
> index.php?pagefile=papers ). Perhaps you could divide it into  
> something like:
>
> - 'literature resources' -> articles, papers, etc.
> - 'repetoire resources' -> example accessibility methods, games, etc.
> - 'tool resources' -> tools for testing/designing accessibility
>
> Mmm... pretty overwhelming still - any suggestions?
>
> Greets,
>
> Richard
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tara Tefertiller"  
> <tara.tefertiller at gmail.com>
> To: "IGDA Games Accessibility SIG Mailing List"  
> <games_access at igda.org>
> Sent: Monday, November 15, 2010 3:50 PM
> Subject: [games_access] What Would You Like to See on Our Website?
>
>
>> Hey everyone,
>>
>> The steering committee has been working hard, and we are still   
>> working to revamp our web presence.
>>
>> I would first like to tell you about some of the decisions that  
>> we  have already made.
>>
>> Firstly, we plan to keep our blog running as it is. We think it's   
>> been working great, and is an awesome place for those to already  
>> know  about accessibility to look for the latest news and what  
>> other  members are doing. Remember- if you would like to be able  
>> to post on  the blog contact Barrie! We also plan to make sure  
>> that all these  posts are also appearing as links on our new  
>> Facebook so that they  get more traffic.
>>
>> Secondly, we plan to move off the IGDA's website. We want everyone  
>> to  be able to see our website, not just IGDA members. Pushing  
>> for  accessibility is our main goal- not pushing IGDA memberships.  
>> Having  a membership is great, but we don't want to punish those  
>> who don't.  We plan for those who visit the current website to  
>> either be  redirected or see a link to click. Further more, we  
>> want more control  over the look and be able to address any  
>> website issues ourselves  rather than wait for IGDA- who is  
>> running low on people to manage the  IGDA website.
>>
>> The main goal of the website will be to have our mission  
>> statement,  give basic information on accessibility, and be  
>> attractive to new  members. It isn't going to have all of the in  
>> depth information- but  it will tell people how to get it and  
>> where. The goal is to not over  load those who are new to learning  
>> about accessibility. If they read  the stuff on the site, and are  
>> interested in learning more, they can  join the email list, check  
>> out the blog, and so on.  This is key  since we plan on working  
>> with developers, teachers and colleges- most  of whom are new and  
>> could become great resources for the SIG.
>>
>> The website will also link to the blog, Facebook and Twitter.  
>> Getting  the Twitter running again is on the list of things to do.  
>> Be patient!
>>
>> We are currently deciding what pages we would like to feature.
>>
>> I am in favor of a (this is me just brainstorming):
>>
>> Welcome Page-
>> Standard Welcome to the Site. Possible a mission statement here?   
>> Maybe recent news?
>>
>> Contact Page-
>> Info about how to contact leadership, the email list in general.   
>> Maybe some of the chapters where members frequent. (Like I attend   
>> every Orlando Chapter meeting, so that is a place I could be   
>> contacted, so on.) We could put individual's emails on here if   
>> wanted. Maybe have like a city name/ country name and then the   
>> contact. Like I could be the Florida/ Orlando contact. Sandra  
>> could  be the Germany contact, and so on. That way if there is  
>> some local  organization (maybe like a college) they can find  
>> someone near by to  talk to.
>>
>> Thoughts?
>>
>> About SIG Page-
>> Mission Statements. Mentioning being a part of IGDA. Current   
>> Leadership. Membership list. How to join. Email list. Some history  
>> of  past events (not too much though)
>>
>> About Accessibility Page-
>> Basic accessibility info. Definition. Who it effects, Solutions.   
>> Nothing too in depth - like I said, it's for new members. Don't  
>> want  to scare them away!
>>
>> Event Page-
>> IDGA Chapter meetings, Presentations (like I'm speaking at Full  
>> Sail soon), GDC, so on
>> Would have the date, location, details, who to contact about the  
>> event
>>
>> Resources/Links/Etc-
>> Links to the blog/ IGDA site/ Other websites we work with/support  
>> (Special Effect, AbleGamers, etc)
>>
>>
>>
>> Like I said, that was just me brainstorming. What are your ideas?   
>> What would you like to see featured?
>>
>>
>> We are also calling any artists out there to make some art for  
>> the  site and the blog. Headers/banners especially! If you're  
>> interested,  feel free to email Kevin, Barrie, and me off thread  
>> so we can discuss  it.
>>
>>
>>
>> Please share your thoughts right away. The sooner we know what  
>> you  want, the sooner we can get the SIG a new website.
>>
>>
>> Have a great day everyone,
>>
>> Tara
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>
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