How Easy Surf is Eliminating Accessibility Barriers

Easy Surf is a collective of accessibility specialists, engineers, and consultants who approach access and design from a unique perspective.

We are like the Avengers but with disabilities. We work tirelessly behind the scenes, using our unique powers, resources, and skills to combat inaccessibility and uphold digital inclusion. Whether it’s game studios, businesses, organizations, governments, or educational institutions, we aim to identify and eliminate the digital accessibility barriers that those with disabilities encounter.

Like an avenger, I didn’t choose accessibility; accessibility chose me. In January 2018, three years after being diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), I found myself unable to work as a research analyst at an investment management firm. The pain, initially localized to my right foot and leg, had spread to my left foot, both arms, and shoulders. I could only walk short distances and could not use a keyboard, mouse, or smartphone for more than a minute.

For months, I barely used my phone or computer. No news, social media, videos, TV shows, or messaging friends. To some, this might sound awesome, but it wasn’t, it left me isolated and frustrated. Over time, my focus shifted from what I couldn’t do to what I could do. My voice was unaffected, and I could make limited head movements. I discovered speech recognition and a head-controlled mouse, which allowed me to regain about 50% of my previous abilities. It was exciting to find new ways to interact and communicate with others. However, new frustrations quickly dampened that excitement, as I encountered many accessibility barriers navigating digital spaces using assistive technology.

Easy Surf was founded when Laetitia, my partner and accessibility specialist, met Tamara Vandendool Cable, a blind accessibility professional with a YouTube channel. Tamara is an expert in assistive technology, including screen readers, braille devices, and optical character recognition. As a team, we recruited some of the best, disabled talent in the business, spanning the unique and complex nature of digital access barriers, working toward our mission: to provide accessibility and usability that goes beyond current standards. We ensure our client’s products and websites are truly usable and accessible to all.

Unexpectedly, video game accessibility became our primary focus as various studios began reaching out in 2023. For many people with disabilities, video games are essential as they provide a means to community and collaboration when mobility, energy, or access may be limited in other areas of life. We believe the reason studios should make their games accessible is simple and obvious. Everyone deserves the opportunity to participate, enjoy and play games.

When we spoke to the folks in our office we found an overwhelming desire to participate in gaming. Our gaming development lead Tarja Porkka-Knotturi, sums it up beautifully, “As a disabled autistic person, accessible gaming is a crucial part of my self-care routine. I can engage with different worlds, stories and adventures while treating my mental (and physical) health at home through power of play.”

However, if you need to present upward-sloping bar charts in shareholder meetings, accessibility can also help increase profits. The video game market in the US is mature and saturated, with 78% of people having played at least one video game in the past year. Future growth will only come from capturing audiences who rarely or do not play video games. Many have disabilities, and studios must work with them to reach them.

“Pivoting to accessibility in games coverage and consulting allowed me to take things I struggled with and do something productive with them.”  Laura Kate Dale, accessibility consultant.

The video game accessibility industry is highly fragmented. Most specialists with disabilities are independent freelancers, largely because they, like me, cannot fit into the traditional 9-to-5 job structure.

This results in an inefficient network of studios and freelancers attempting to connect and collaborate. We work to centralize resources, knowledge, and opportunities by bringing everyone under one consultancy, making it easier for our customers and consultants.

“As someone with a disability that can cause my energy to fluctuate throughout a typical day and make it difficult to get out of the house alone, working a typical 9 to 5 job has never been possible for me. Easy Surf has allowed me to work at my own pace around the symptoms of my disability and get properly compensated.” – Milan Patel, accessibility consultant.

Accessibility challenges the status quo of game design. One of our clients, Lemonade Games is developing a game called Mystiques Haunted Antiques that perfectly captures this. It allows everyone to be the person they never knew they always wanted to be… an insufferable woman working at a haunted antique store. From the outset, they aim to make their game playable by as many people as possible. We conducted three focus groups for them.

Image From @MystiquesGame on Instagram

“I can’t overstate how much time and money we saved by having Easy Surf experts comb through our designs before we implemented them to help us remove unintentional blockers and make our game more accessible.” Ally McLean, Studio Director of Lemonade Games

Like Lemonade Games, we encourage developers to push beyond convention and explore new, imaginative possibilities. It’s the meaning behind our gaming slogan, “Fight the familiar.”

We are saddened to learn that Milan, quoted in this article, has passed away. Our deepest condolences to his family and friends. Milan’s ambition to make games accessible and contributions to the community will be remembered.