The loud voices of disabled creators are starting to emerge in pop culture and it’s difficult to not pay attention.
Last week I released an article on Alt.Pop.Zine discussing some of the individuals that inspired me to pursue my passions and advocate for myself as a disabled person. You can read A Tale of 4 Role Models for the Crippled Kid here. One of the people I highlighted is Steve Saylor.
I sat down with Steve for an interview to discuss his work and accessibility in the gaming industry.
Crip Culture: Accessibility in Gaming with Steve Saylor
Steve is a blind video gamer, content creator and accessibility consultant. He works alongside companies like XBOX, Ubisoft, and Sony to make games more accessible to people with disabilities. On his Youtube channel, Steve creates videos critiquing games and educating his audience on accessibility in the context of gaming.
Growing up, Steve loved video games but always found himself struggling to play them well. As he got older, he realized that it wasn’t so much an issue with his skills, but more so that the games weren’t designed for people who weren’t able bodied. Despite his frustration and almost quitting playing games entirely, Steve decided to fight to play.
The gaming industry is the most profitable entertainment mediums in the world with the video games market being valued at approximately 131.23 billion U.S dollars as of 2020. But it hasn’t been until very recently that disabled individuals were taken into account in the development of video games.
Video games are so much more than an entertainment medium, they’re a social gathering where people can come together to engage in conversation and create community. Regardless of the platform, device or type of game, anyone who plays can be considered a gamer. The future of gaming is a bright one, and Steve is ensuring that anyone who wants to play has the resources to be able to do so.
Make sure to follow Steve Saylor on Twitter here. Check out his Youtube channel (Steve Saylor – Blind Gamer) here. You can also find Steve Saylor on Twitch here.
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