minecraft, accessability [1/3]
An interesting example of people not considering accessability in digital spaces:
On the Hermitcraft server, several hermits made a nether hub to link up various different locations. It has a "lower" area, which has nether portals for the main map, and an "upper" area, which has high-speed ice tracks for travelling to stuff that's very far away. To get between the two areas, you just fly using your wings.
minecraft, accessability [2/3]
Except: one hermit who was on the server less regularly expressed recently that she was unable to get from the lower area to the upper one, because she struggled to take off from flat ground.
Two other hermits joined the server, and they found themselves stuck in the upper area, because it's too far of a fall and they had yet to get wings.
Nobody had thought to put in a staircase. Someone planned on putting in an elevator, but never got around to finishing it.
minecraft, accessability [3/3]
It's interesting to me that these players managed to make a really good example of how "not thinking about accessability" excludes people.
"Everyone has and uses the wings," they thought. But they didn't consider the people who found it difficult. Or people who didn't have wings yet. Or people who had wings, but they broke because things in minecraft break after a while.
re: minecraft, accessability [3/3]
@lizardsquid oooh! I love that bc like, I feel this could actually be a very good y to teach abled kids abt accessibility via Minecraft?
But I also like it a lot bc it’s really mirrors irl accessibility issues. Even when ppl remember not everyone has wings, they forget people who struggle to fly or have easily broken wings.
I.e. the lack of seats in public areas as someone who needs to sit down a lot.