No, no, no, this isn't a chat for the above only.

What I want to talk about is:
[Olist][*]DMs how did you handle the presence of those with visual difficulties in your games?
[*]Have you had visually impaired members help you with DMing?
[*]Do any of you know any visually impaired members that have run a game by him/ herself? Since I can't figure out how to work around adding players, let alone half a dozen other issues related to running a game.

Mkay, let's get chatting.

Are you asking about player characters who are visually impaired or players themselves?

Most of the visually impaired I know work with disability software that allows for either extreme magnification (one of them I know just uses a powerful magnifying glass that she holds up to the screen) while others use text-to-voice software. I have not used it before but many governments have disability offices that can assist people with visual impairment in using computers and the internet as a whole.

It is a bit of a misconception for blind people that they have to use brail. Blindness is typically a spectrum and the legal definition of blind is only 20//200 in the US.


Anyway that aside I guess I don’t understand your questions, especially the last one. Are you visually impaired and are having problems using features on the site?
This message was last edited by the user at 21:08, Sat 12 Sept 2020.

I was speaking for individuas, who like me, are blind.

:D

I use JAWS, which is a screen-reader, as refreshable braille displays are suuuuuper expensive.

And yes,I am having problems with some of the features on the sight. I was hoping I'd run into another blind or visually impaired individual, who managed to deal with some of the problems I'm having. Mostly when trying to start and run a game, I figured out most of the stuff related to participating in a game as a player.

I'll try and think of a better way to ask my questions.

I don't remember her name, but there was a user here who was blind, not just visually challenged  I was co-DM in a game she played in, but I think she also ran games.  I had to help her with picking a suitable portrait for her characters, but I think otherwise I never would have known.

I would expect a blind, or even partially blind, user who wanted to run a game would be wise to have a co-DM, if only to ensure no one was using visuals that were against the rules.

Perhaps you should post a bit about the problems you've had.  Someone may be able to suggest work arounds, and jase might even take those into consideration as he updates, especially if they make something easier for everyone.

I’ve not, to my knowledge, encountered a visually impaired player here, but the thoughts that occur to me first are:

- ask the player what they need from me, as DM or fellow PC, to help them.
- request that all players work hard to make sure spelling is accurate to avoid risk of reading software misreading text, thus affecting the visually impaired player’s ability to follow the game.

To DM a game? I guess speak to Jase and the mods to make sure RPoL interacts effectively with any aids you are using. If you know what you need and they know the structure of the site then I guess they are your first port of call.

I have a blind player in my game right now who uses JAWS, and the only thing they ask is that when players and NPCs speak, that we use quotation marks. Posts where the folks simply color their spoken text can come off as confusing to the blind person.

If you need me to pick their brain a bit, I will. Just say the word.

In reply to Jeffery St. Clair (msg # 7):



If that player is Agious, then his amazing accomplishments in regards to this site and training of me are well known.

:D

If that player is not Agious, although your name rings a bell, which makes me think it is, then please pick his/her brain.

You are correct, it is agious, so I'll just wish you the best of luck. Sorry I wasn't much help.  :)

In reply to Jeffery St. Clair (msg # 7):

What do you mean by quotation marks?
"This kind of quotation marks? (1)"
or

or something else entirely that I din't get?
This message was last edited by the user at 12:48, Tue 15 Sept 2020.

I think the first because it offers an auditory cue where just changing the color like some sort of animal with no grasp of language wouldn't get picked up by a screen reader at all.

The first. Colors take a Reply with Quotes for the reader to see the color tags - an extra step that's not necessary if the player uses " and " when their character speaks.

I've learnt something today as well... I can go to sleep happy ;)

I have had a couple of blind players who were brilliant.  I do not know what software they were using at the time so sorry I can't help you there. But GMing I think each of them did run games of their own.  Most probably with a coGM.  It does help when writers use the correct punctuations but many will not be bothered.  Good Luck with your games and as it has been said many are here to help you.