Karen Stevens

Accessibility Specialist 

- 

Game Specialist

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Accepting Work

Full-Time

Full-Time

Full-Time

Need an in-house accessibility specialist? Let's talk!

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Contract

Full-Time

Full-Time

Do you have a smaller project? 

Let me know!

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Events

Full-Time

Events

I'm open to speaker opportunities, employee training, and more.

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Resume

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Past Speaking Engagements

screencapture of youtube video

Accessibility Best Practices: In-Game Communication

Accessibility Best Practices: In-Game Communication

Accessibility Best Practices: In-Game Communication

GDC 2020 presentation covering CVAA guidance and related accessibility recommendations

Watch on Youtube
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I Can't Hear You: Considering Deaf Gamers

Accessibility Best Practices: In-Game Communication

Accessibility Best Practices: In-Game Communication

GDC 2019 presentation covering accessibility best practices for supporting deaf and hard of hearing gamers

Watch On Youtube

AAA Gaming While Blind

Accessibility Best Practices: In-Game Communication

Accessibility Best Practices: Mobility Considerations

GDC 2018 presentation covering accessibility best practices for support blind and low vision gamers

Watch on Youtube

Accessibility Best Practices: Mobility Considerations

Game Accessibility: Practical Visual Fixes from EA's Madden NFL Franchise

Accessibility Best Practices: Mobility Considerations

GDC 2021 presentation covering how to best support gamers with a variety of mobiliy issues

WATCH on youtube
youtube screencapture

Game Accessibility: Practical Visual Fixes from EA's Madden NFL Franchise

Game Accessibility: Practical Visual Fixes from EA's Madden NFL Franchise

Game Accessibility: Practical Visual Fixes from EA's Madden NFL Franchise

GDC 2017 presentation covering the use of colorblind filters and other visual accessibility features 

watch on youtube
youtube screencapture

Treading the Game Accessibility Trend

Game Accessibility: Practical Visual Fixes from EA's Madden NFL Franchise

Game Accessibility: Practical Visual Fixes from EA's Madden NFL Franchise

GAC (Game Accessibility Conference) talk about developments in game accessibility, plus the importance of resilience

watch on youtube

Patents

Contrast ratio detection and rendering system

Systems and methods for automated image processing for images with similar luminosities

Systems and methods for automated image processing for images with similar luminosities

Systems and methods that can automatically detect bad contrast ratios in a rendered frame of a game application. 


Read Patent US10878540B1

Systems and methods for automated image processing for images with similar luminosities

Systems and methods for automated image processing for images with similar luminosities

Systems and methods for automated image processing for images with similar luminosities

Embodiments of systems and methods for automated image processing to improve visibility of similar luminosities in a digital media application are disclosed. 

Read Patent US10118097B2

Real-Time Game Performance Analysis

Systems and methods for automated image processing for images with similar luminosities

Real-Time Game Performance Analysis

 A method for analyzing the performance of a video game uses a diagnostic tool that is associated with application code of the video game. 

Read Patent US US8219975 B2

Automated audio sub-band comparison

Systems and methods for transcribing user interface elements of a game application into haptic feed

Real-Time Game Performance Analysis

Automated testing of audio performance of applications across platforms is provided for via capture and analysis of audio data.


Read patent US EP1971936 A2

Systems and methods for transcribing user interface elements of a game application into haptic feed

Systems and methods for transcribing user interface elements of a game application into haptic feed

Systems and methods for transcribing user interface elements of a game application into haptic feed

The present invention introduces an in-game API wrapper to perform identification and transcription of in-game visual and audio data by way of identifiable tags. 

Read patent US20210252392A1

Color blindness diagnostic system

Systems and methods for transcribing user interface elements of a game application into haptic feed

Systems and methods for transcribing user interface elements of a game application into haptic feed

Systems and methods for determining whether to enable color blind accessibility settings within the course of a user interactive narrative.

Read Patent US20210252403A1

Media Coverage

Gaming Has Many Visually Impaired Fans. Why Not Serve Them Better?

How a blind man plays mainstream video games and the future of accessibility in games

How Video Game Companies Are Improving The Experience For Visually Impaired People

A growing number of game developers are offering options that make their games accessible to the visually impaired.




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How Video Game Companies Are Improving The Experience For Visually Impaired People

How a blind man plays mainstream video games and the future of accessibility in games

How Video Game Companies Are Improving The Experience For Visually Impaired People

Video games are dominated by action-packed visuals, yet, there are visually impaired people all over the world playing them, ranging from the totally blind to the color blind. Now, gaming companies are working to make games more accessible.

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How a blind man plays mainstream video games and the future of accessibility in games

How a blind man plays mainstream video games and the future of accessibility in games

How a blind man plays mainstream video games and the future of accessibility in games

Major game company Electronic Arts is reaching out to visually impaired for feedback on games




Read Article
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Why EA Sports Started Taking Accessibility Seriously

EA Introduces Director of Accessibility, Team Has Been Moved to a Central Position

How a blind man plays mainstream video games and the future of accessibility in games

An informal game jam from 2014 kicked off a series of events that ended up with the studio hiring its first in-house accessibility lead 

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A quick guide to readable game text

EA Introduces Director of Accessibility, Team Has Been Moved to a Central Position

EA Introduces Director of Accessibility, Team Has Been Moved to a Central Position

At GDC Summer, EA Sports' Karen Stevens shared the importance of legible fonts and why you shouldn't write off Comic Sans


Read Article
Can I play that logo

EA Introduces Director of Accessibility, Team Has Been Moved to a Central Position

EA Introduces Director of Accessibility, Team Has Been Moved to a Central Position

EA Introduces Director of Accessibility, Team Has Been Moved to a Central Position

Karen Steven’s announced yesterday that they are no longer the Accessibility Lead for EA Sports, but instead, they are now the Director of Accessibility for all of EA. 

Read Article

EA Creates Accessibility Portal For Disabled Players

How blind players succeed at sports video games they’ve never seen

How blind players succeed at sports video games they’ve never seen

 Electronic Arts has made a portal website catered to guiding disabled gamers.



Read Article

How blind players succeed at sports video games they’ve never seen

How blind players succeed at sports video games they’ve never seen

How blind players succeed at sports video games they’ve never seen

A few small accessibility changes can unlock a whole new player base.



Read Article

Wie Videospielen mit Behinderung ermöglicht wird

How blind players succeed at sports video games they’ve never seen

Wie Videospielen mit Behinderung ermöglicht wird

Karen Stevens ist Software-Ingenieurin bei EA Sports und entwickelt Videospiele wie "Fifa" oder "Madden NFL" für Menschen mit Behinderungen

Read Article (paywall)

Gaming is for everyone, including those with disabilities. Accessibility leads to a more level playing field, while improving products for everyone.


Karen Stevens

Karen Stevens Photograph
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