About Us

Image of Jacob Wood, Owner

Jacob Wood’s Story

What would you do with your life if you lost your vision and your life’s dreams  suddenly seemed out of reach?

That was the question that plagued  me for several years, and it took a lot of soul searching to find the answer.

Once a budding young web developer, computer hardware enthusiast, and video game junkie, I began losing my sight in my mid teens and had difficulty adapting. Accessible computer software wasn’t the norm at the time, and as my condition worsened it seemed like I would never get to achieve my life goals. All I had left, it seemed, was tabletop gaming.

As more of my time became consumed with games, I realized I was spending a lot of time adapting them for low vision play or struggling with inaccessible PDFs. One day my vision became clear: I would make it my life’s work to design and promote accessible games.

I founded the Accessible Games blog in 2010. Its original focus was on reviewing games and focusing on their accessible (or inaccessible) elements. During this time, my wife convinced me to take some of the RPGs I was writing for myself and turn them into something I could share with everyone, and I published Psi-punk in 2013.

After publishing my first book, I decided to take what I learned and share it with other designers so they could make their own games more accessible and more inclusive. As I continue to learn and grow, I continue to share that knowledge.

My belief is that games are for absolutely everyone. They connect people to one another in meaningful ways by building lasting friendships and strengthening family bonds. They improve cognition, motor skills, and social skills. Most importantly, games have the potential to change lives–and I have first-hand experience with that. Not every game is designed for every person, but I believe every person should have the opportunity to find a game for them.

You can join me in my mission to bring the joy of gaming to everyone. Use the social media links on this website to connect with me. Tell your personal gaming story to others. Ask your favorite publishers  to make their games more accessible. If you do nothing else, share your love of games with as many people as you can. Together, we can spread joy.

Resume

In addition to designing and publishing our games, I do freelance writing and accessibility consulting for other companies. Please contact me if you’d like to have me involved on any of your projects.

Writing

Layout

Accessibility Consulting

 

Interviews

Web Links