The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Scotland is marking the fifth anniversary of its pioneering blind and partially sighted gaming group, a thriving community that brings together gamers from across Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Formed in November 2020 during the pandemic lockdown, the online group provides a vital safe space for like-minded gamers with sight loss to build friendships, share experiences, and act as a collective voice advocating for better inclusion across the mainstream gaming industry.
The group’s success demonstrates the immense social and community value of gaming. Louise Meeke (39), who has been part of the group since 2021, shared how it provides a sense of belonging:
Gaming helps me feel less disabled. For me, gaming is about spending time with my friends, indulging in a pass-time we all enjoy and can talk about for hours… I was hesitant in the beginning, but I’ve made so many friends. Discord is great because we can all meet online from anywhere, have our mics on, and just chat together while we game, as if there’s no distance between us. To me, it’s freedom and a real community that I belong to.
Kellie Dingwall (31), from Edinburgh, who uses her experience to help others find accessible games, highlights the group’s practical value:
I love that I’ve learned about opportunities to get involved in accessibility in gaming, and that I’ve been able to help others find games they can play through sharing my own experience.
The Critical Need for Accessibility
The RNIB’s work extends far beyond community building. The charity is a key advocate for advancing accessibility in video games, working directly with developers and creators.
The RNIB’s Accessible Gaming Report found that 76% of gamers with sight loss said their ability to play was significantly affected by their condition. More worryingly, only 15% of surveyed game developers felt they had a sufficient understanding of players’ accessibility needs.
Input from groups like the Blind Gaming Group is vital to close this gap and shape the next generation of accessible game design.
A Call to Developers
James Kyle from RNIB Scotland’s Community Social Action team, emphasised that small design changes can make a huge difference, particularly for the games industry in Scotland.
We know there are thousands of people with sight loss who enjoy gaming on all the mainstream platforms just as much as those who are fully sighted. Sight loss is a a spectrum, and there is so much that game developers can do – from menu narration and high-contrast modes, to scalable UI, and enhanced haptic feedback – to make games more playable.
The Royal National Institute For Blind People Scotland offers resources and opportunities for developers. The Design For Every Gamer (DFEG) initiative aims to create a better gaming world for people with sight loss and is a rallying cry to the industry to start making real change. The organisation also offers the opportunity for studios to connect directly with gamers with sight loss through its Game Player Testing Panel, ensuring that developers design for every gamer.
Game creators looking to understand accessibility needs can find more information about the RNIB’s DevKit and testing panel on the RNIB website. Gamers with sight loss can join the community by calling the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999.