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How to make your Twitch channel more accessibility friendly & inclusive (a thread) 
(non-exhaustive list, feel free to add things and comment on them, I'm always grateful for input and feedback
)
(non-exhaustive list, feel free to add things and comment on them, I'm always grateful for input and feedback
)
Closed Captions
There's literally no reason why you wouldn't use closed captions.
Apart from Twitch extensions, there's a great plugin for OBS Studio (hey @streamlabs, it would be great if you'd offer something like this in the future, too!) found here: https://github.com/ratwithacompiler/OBS-captions-plugin
There's literally no reason why you wouldn't use closed captions.
Apart from Twitch extensions, there's a great plugin for OBS Studio (hey @streamlabs, it would be great if you'd offer something like this in the future, too!) found here: https://github.com/ratwithacompiler/OBS-captions-plugin
The OBS extension enables native captions in the video player, making it easy for viewers to turn them on and off.
With the plugin, the captions will also be available on your VODs, which is a great way to offer inclusivity even for your non-live content
With the plugin, the captions will also be available on your VODs, which is a great way to offer inclusivity even for your non-live content
Don't use pictures for text
A lot of us have picture including or replacing text in our panels. However, these pictures are not accessible for folx who use a screenreader. I'm sure we all can make panels with actual text work (since Twitch doesn't offer alt-texting our pictures)
A lot of us have picture including or replacing text in our panels. However, these pictures are not accessible for folx who use a screenreader. I'm sure we all can make panels with actual text work (since Twitch doesn't offer alt-texting our pictures)
Contrast and Font size
A classic among the accessibility requirements, but make sure that your text and pictures are visible in both, light and dark mode. Unfortunately Twitch doesn't give us many options, so make sure to use the Header (#, ##, ###) markdown and...
A classic among the accessibility requirements, but make sure that your text and pictures are visible in both, light and dark mode. Unfortunately Twitch doesn't give us many options, so make sure to use the Header (#, ##, ###) markdown and...
Format your Text/Visual Hierarchy
Reading small, cramped text is tough for us all. When struggling with dyslexia or visibility impairments, this is almost impossible. Make sure to format your text in a logical way. Use LINE BREAKS, HEADERS (#), and Bold the most important words
Reading small, cramped text is tough for us all. When struggling with dyslexia or visibility impairments, this is almost impossible. Make sure to format your text in a logical way. Use LINE BREAKS, HEADERS (#), and Bold the most important words
Links
Unfortunately, Twitch's color scheme is lacking contrast and additional visual distinction. Therefore, make sure your links are always accompanied by clear, descriptive text. If possible, use the header markup so they are bigger which makes up a bit for lacking contrast
Unfortunately, Twitch's color scheme is lacking contrast and additional visual distinction. Therefore, make sure your links are always accompanied by clear, descriptive text. If possible, use the header markup so they are bigger which makes up a bit for lacking contrast
Additional information to links
Keyboard only users navigate from link to link, so I think it's really helpful to not only hide a link on the image, but also always put it into the text. This ensures keyboard only users can move with the reading flow and prevents confusion.
Keyboard only users navigate from link to link, so I think it's really helpful to not only hide a link on the image, but also always put it into the text. This ensures keyboard only users can move with the reading flow and prevents confusion.
Complex images
like charts, maps, or graphs, offer a text alternative for those! Describe what is shown and what kind of conclusion the spectator should draw from it. So, if you're showing your win rates, ROI, or anything like that, make sure it's accurately described :)
like charts, maps, or graphs, offer a text alternative for those! Describe what is shown and what kind of conclusion the spectator should draw from it. So, if you're showing your win rates, ROI, or anything like that, make sure it's accurately described :)
Seizure triggers
Check your content for seizure triggers (especially channel trailers or other prominent videos on your page). Add a warning to the title if you decide to keep it.
Check your content for seizure triggers (especially channel trailers or other prominent videos on your page). Add a warning to the title if you decide to keep it.
Loud Content/Noise warning
Add a warning/tw if a video is especially loud (for example, jumpscares) for people who struggle with audio sensitivity. Also when having scare alerts, make sure your viewers know (add it to the title or on screen).
Add a warning/tw if a video is especially loud (for example, jumpscares) for people who struggle with audio sensitivity. Also when having scare alerts, make sure your viewers know (add it to the title or on screen).
Abbreviations
It's often fun to use abbreviations and there's definitely a lot with common understanding, but make sure you add explanations whenever applicable.
Pronounciation
Add information on how to pronounce unusual or unfamiliar words, names, and such. It helps understand
It's often fun to use abbreviations and there's definitely a lot with common understanding, but make sure you add explanations whenever applicable.
Pronounciation
Add information on how to pronounce unusual or unfamiliar words, names, and such. It helps understand
This is a non-exhaustive list and if you can think of any more things, I'm happy to add them! Also if you are affected by any of these things, let me know what you think and how I can improve.
Thank you for reading this, and I hope we can all make improvements for inclusivity
Thank you for reading this, and I hope we can all make improvements for inclusivity
I was made aware (thank you so much @CaptDanielsan ) that of course Closed Captions won't work when dealing with speech impediments. I apologize for the blanket statement and I will distinguish this next time!
Edit: I was made aware that especially for people with autism or focus difficulties, captions that are window captured *IN* OBS (and therefore viewers can't decide whether to show or hide them) are bad practice.
Using an extension or the native CC plugin is better!
Using an extension or the native CC plugin is better!
Edit 2: If you have issues with the OBS plugin on the Github page, scroll down until you see the "Installation" section - it's all explained there!
Download Zip file from the Releases page (linked), and just add the .dll file for your system into the OBS Studio/plugins folder :)
Download Zip file from the Releases page (linked), and just add the .dll file for your system into the OBS Studio/plugins folder :)
I honestly didn't expect this thread to be shared to such a degree. I should have spell checked it LOL Thank you all for sharing and for being open about making changes in the name of accessibility. I truly hope @Twitch will give us more tools in the future to adjust things
Please also check out @AbleGamers who are fighting for better accessibility in games and game-related services every day. @stevenspohn is a great inspiration and there's so much we can learn from disabled gamers Elevating their voices is SO important
Elevating their voices is SO important
And finally, if you are or know a gamer with a disability of any kind, I'm always SO happy to hear from you & your experience. I work in UX for @Ubisoft and there's so much I have to learn. I'm grateful for your perspective and for what you want to see improved in our industry
CORRECTION: Descriptive Links
I realized my advice regarding links in text was bad. Users with screen readers often use shortcuts to list all links on a page, and therefore "click here" etc. is bad. Make sure a link name is a DESCRIPTIVE text.
I decided to realize it like this:
I realized my advice regarding links in text was bad. Users with screen readers often use shortcuts to list all links on a page, and therefore "click here" etc. is bad. Make sure a link name is a DESCRIPTIVE text.
I decided to realize it like this:
