Accessible Gaming: Let’s Play Together-Games for Blind Gamers
Join us on Saturday, January 24th from 12-3pm at Washington Talking Book and Braille Library for our first in person Accessible Gaming Event–”Let’s Play Together” Game for Blind Gamers!
We are thrilled to kick off 2026 with an amazing group and host a fun event designed for connecting, learning, and making new friends.
When: Saturday, Jan 24, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM PST
Where: Washington Talking Book & Braille Library | 2021 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA. Map
Doors open to the public at 12pm
Discussion and Live Q&A at 12:30 with a panel of blind and sighted developers. Bios at the end.
Here is everything you need to know for arrival:
Doors will be unlocked at the front door on the corner of 9th & Lenora. A greeter will be there to assist. Or ring the doorbell.
Bus: Near major routes like 5, 8, 26, 28; two blocks from the Greyhound station.
Driving: Exit I-5 at Mercer
Parking: Library parking garage on 7th Ave,
or 1 block away at Whole Foods, 2 blocks away at Amazon Lots.
If you park at the Library, please don’t park in the three “FareStart” spaces along the South Wall to the West closest to the loading dock. Trucks may be in those spaces, but if not, those cannot be parked in.
For easiest access to the elevator, park at the north end of the garage (toward Lenora Street). There is a blue door that will get you into the vestibule/stairwell and the elevator is right there. Take it down to the first floor (the garage is the second floor) and you’ll be in the entry way and only need to come in the inner set of front doors.
Activities:
There will be gaming stations with a few games at each station.
AAA Games: The Last Of Us part I and part II, Factorio, As Dusk Falls, Balatro, Hades, Stardew Valley, Disco Elysium, Street Fighter 5, Mortal Kombat 1, TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, The Vale, Slay the Spire, Forza Motorsport (2023) and Horizon 5.
Indie Games: Brailliance, Six Ages, Braille Story, Wordvoyance, Super Liam 1/2, Achromatopsia Simulator, Hell of a Racket
Spotlight Tables:
Microsoft’s Inclusive Tech Lab–Engage with Bryce Johnson and Sarah Heinzen from who will have two Xbox Series S setups with Mortal Kombat 1, Forza Motorsport, and The Vale.
12:30 Discussion and Live Q&A about making games accessible for blind and low vision players and how you can work together in the upcoming Games for Blind Gamers Jam.
Moderator:
Ben Ritter, Themis Games, developer of accessible games for blind & sighted.
Expert Panelists:
Zach Clothier, Test Lead for the Microsoft Gaming Accessibility Testing Service
Zack Kline, Accessibility SME and QA Tester
Sarah Heinzen, Inclusive Product Designer at Microsoft”s Inclusive Tech Lab
David Dunham, Game Developer at A#, designed King of Dragon Pass & Six Ages.
Blindfolded Gaming:
At the event, we will be providing blindfolds for attendees to use while playing games. We highly encourage attendents to wear them during gameplay to simulate playing games with no eyesight, as this is a great way to learn first hand the challenges of playing games as a BLV gamer and to understand how to navigate games without eyesight. We also encourage BLV attendees to help out blindfolded players to teach them how to play these games sightless.
Complimentary Food and Beverages will be in the back, as well as a seating area to enjoy them.
Considerations:
- Introduce yourself by name in a conversation.
- Keep pathways clear, and be mindful of others when navigating the space.
- DO NOT touch other attendees, their guide dogs (they are working), their assistive devices or mobility devices without consent.
- Please keep conversation family-friendly in case their are children at the event.
- Masks available for use, but they are not required. Keep your hands clean, hand sanitizer will be available throughout the venue.
Host: Seattle Indies is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Seattle, WA supporting the largest community of independent game developers in the United States. We strive to provide inclusive and accessible spaces for all who wish to pursue game development as a hobby or profession.
Special Thanks to:
The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL)—Washington’s only completely accessible library providing service to people of all ages unable to read standard print, including persons with blindness, low vision, DeafBlindness, a physical disability that makes holding a book or turning a page difficult, or a reading disability.
If you have any additional accommodation requests, please include them in your event registration or reach out to contact@seattleindies.org.
Accessible Gaming Discussion Leads:
Benjamin Ritter of Themis Games makes games that can be played by blind and sighted players at the same time, without compromises. He is a graduate of DigiPen Institute of Technology with twelve years in the mobile apps and games industry. Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bwritter/
Zach Clothier is a legally blind Test Lead for the Microsoft Gaming Accessibility Testing Service who has provided accessibility consultation on dozens of titles including South of Midnight. He is also a part time game developer who has worked on titles such as Hell of a Racket and Achromatopsia Simulator.
Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-clothier-b4b1a711
Sarah Heinzen is an Inclusive Product Designer at Microsoft’s Inclusive Tech Lab, creating hardware and software solutions that thoughtfully address a wide range of physical, sensory, and cognitive needs. She develops products informed directly by the lived experiences of disabled users, ensuring that inclusive design is not only possible but deeply embedded throughout the product-making process. Beyond her design work, Sarah is passionate about reshaping how the industry approaches play, participation, and accessibility. She regularly collaborates with disability advocates, tech companies, and community programs to build tools and spaces where everyone can thrive.
Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-heinzen-742911155/
Zack Kline, totally blind since birth, has loved gaming since he was a kid with his first Nintendo 64. Finding consols less friendly, he eventually moved to PC games where his love for gaming deepened in everything from text adventure to complex strategy. He’s especially interested in playing popular mainstream games that were previously inaccessible for the blind, with recent favorites including Final Fantasy VI and Disco Elysium. Zack’s newest hobby is making screen reader mods with gen ai, empowering BLV gamers to gain access to classic favorites. Professionally, Zack is an Accessibility SME and QA tester, who has consulted on games, web and app accessibility.
Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zack-kline-cpacc-a4ab659b/
David Dunham has survived game development for 30 years, partly by taking time out for side quests doing software development. He created his first game on a programmable calculator, and led the teams that created King of Dragon Pass and two Six Ages games. Those games are accessible to blind players. He lives in Seattle and is creating a new narrative game.
Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ddunham/