In Their Own Words: Karen Stevens, Software Engineer and Accessibility Lead for EA SPORTS
Learn more about inclusiveness and accessibility for games like Madden 18.
Software Engineer and Accessibility Lead for EA SPORTS, Karen Stevens, and blind gamer Ross Minor, discuss inclusiveness and accessibility for hearing-impaired and visually-impaired players.
Hi Karen, can you tell us a bit about your role at EA Tiburon?
I’m the EA Sports Accessibility Lead, and the first to be in this position. I push for greater inclusion and accessibility. I think of accessibility as the correction of a mismatch between a person and their environment. It’s up to developers to create games that everyone can enjoy, inclusive of individuals with disabilities.
Why is accessibility in video game experiences so important?
Video games are a very popular form of entertainment, and it’s common for people to play with family and friends. By supporting in-game accessibility, we are not only improving our games overall, we’re changing lives by providing a valuable degree of normalcy.
How did you meet Ross Minor?
Originally, Ross reached out to me via email about Madden NFL game accessibility. Before becoming blind, he was a fan of the series, [...]