Making Board Games More Accessible To Blind People Using Items You Already Own
One of the things we like to do as a family is play board games. This doesn’t happen often, though. Only when we lose power, there’s nothing on TV and the DVR doesn’t have something we all want to watch, or there is a pandemic with a stay at home order. If you have little or no vision, board games, especially those that require you to keep cards a secret from other players, is challenging. Some of the games we like to play are Clue, Monopoly, and Uno. I’d love to play Risk, but Jane is a hard ‘no’ on that.
Accessibility Optional
Monopoly is one of those games that you don’t need to keep anything a secret, so other players can help you out without compromising your strategy. They can help you move your game piece (my favorite one is the dog, because it reminds me of Schnapps, the miniature Schnauzer we had when I was growing up,) read out the price of rent on a property you own, or read a Community Chest card when you land on that space. If you wanted to do it on your own, one of the apps available on your iPhone like SeeingAI or Envision could certainly help you out.
Accessibility Necessary For Clue
Clue is different because you don’t want your opponents to see your cards. Of course, one option is to play with teams instead of individually. It is an option, but if you are the one that is blind that change was made just for you. And only you. Using the simple workaround I used enables you to play independently and not makes you feel like a small child. You need at least an iPhone. If you are blind or low vision, you already have that (and if not, why not?) Here’s how I did it:
Before The Game Begins
Have someone read out all the cards. Keep all the people together, then weapons, then places. I would suggest doing each section in alphabetical order. I didn’t do this and it made scanning through the list a little longer when I wanted to check a person, weapon, or place off the list.
Once You Get Your Cards
Once you are dealt your cards, go through your note and check off all the people, weapons, and places. Use SeeAI or Envision apps to have your iPhone read you the cards, Keep in mind that because the cards for Clue use a fancy font for the first letter, it will not be read to you. Mrs. White, for example, will be called rs White.
After The Game Starts
Each time someone shows you a card, use the app you used to read the cards to you to figure out what card is being shown by your competitor. Go to your note in the Notes app and check it off.
Of course, don’t forget to have your earbuds plugged into your phone so the other players can’t hear the card being read.
iCantCU on Alexa and Google Assistant
You can now listen to the podcast on Amazon and Google devices!
To Listen On Google Devices
Say, “Hey Google, Talk to I can’t see you.”
To Listen On Amazon Devices
Say, “Alexa, play I can’t see you.”
It is that easy to listen to the iCantCU Podcast on your smart speakers!