How can Twitch better support disabled streamers?
Last month, a new post on theTwitch UserVoice forum requested for a Disability Pride Month.
So far,Twitchhas celebratedGlobal Accessibility Awareness Dayin May for the past two years.
How does being disabled on Twitch impact streaming?
What’s discussed in this article is by no means exhaustive.
But there are some common experiences.
As with all streamers, the process begins with choosing a game to stream.
For disabled streamers, even that can be fraught.
“For me, I get to have considerations, like ‘is this accessible?
Spohn, for instance, missed out on Animal Crossing because the Switch isn’t accessible to him.
Spohn also mentions the cognitive dissonance of prejudging a game to not be playable.
“I absolutely loveRocket League,” he says.
So let’s not make him interested in it’”.
It works the other way too, with Spohn able to advise other players from his stream.
Vtuber and voice artistTiffanyWitchersuffers from multiple chronic illnesses, which impacts how frequently they’re able to stream.
Still even with all of that sometimes my body is in too much pain to stream."
Radderssis another streamer (and member of theChronically Badassstream team) suffering from multiple chronic illnesses.
I have human needs.
Disabled streamers also need to consider how they stream.
Often extra tech is required to allow them to both play a game and interact with the chat.
For SightlessKombat, sighted assistance is often required and he often streams with a co-pilot to aid further.
I cannot live independently.I am in every single way, worthy of living.
We are worthy.#MyDisabledLifeIsWorthy
So what does all this mean for Twitch?
What more can Twitch be doing to support disabled streamers?
How easy is it for streamers to add captions to their streams?"
Captions in particular are a major frustration point for many.
Both Spohn and TiffanyWitcher feel more can be done in this area.
An expansion of tags to include game content would also help protect viewers and streamers.
kindly take the time to check out my cause and upvote it.
I’m working and making moves now.
And thank you for the support with what happened it met a lot.
Let those personalities shine and have an opportunity for people to find them," he says.
Discoverability is a major factor, then.
TiffanyWitcher is calling for Twitch to highlight more disabled streamers.
“Put us on the billboards!”
“This can show that Twitch truly cares for everyone.”
That’s on top of employing more accessibility consultants and speaking directly with the community.
Striving for visibility of disabled streamers needs to come from all streamers.
A Disability Pride Month would undoubtedly inject some visibility, then.
