Blind Gaming Group Levels Up at Five Years
RNIB logo – See differently
A community of gamers with sight loss from across Scotland and Northern Ireland says its network is thriving as it marks its fifth anniversary.
Formed during the pandemic lockdown in November 2020, as part of RNIB’s community work, the group brings together like-minded blind and partially sighted gamers to build friendships, share experiences, and campaign for better inclusion in the mainstream gaming industry. Members meet regularly online via Microsoft Teams and Discord.
Kellie Dingwall (31), who lives in Edinburgh, is severely sight impaired due to optic nerve hypoplasia. She joined the group in 2022 and uses her own experience to help other gamers find accessible games.
Kellie Dingwall sitting at her gaming desk gives a thumbs up.
Kellie“I joined the group in early 2022 and never regretted it. I’ve met some good friends and we play games together regularly - mainly Dungeons and Dragons or Yugioh. I love that I’ve learned about opportunities to get involved in accessibility in gaming, and that I’ve been able to help others find games they can play through sharing my own experience."
Louise Meeke lives in Northern Ireland, was born partially sighted due to cerebral palsy and has been gaming since the age of seven. Now 39, she says gaming is a life-long passion.
Louise Meeke sitting on her bed smiling and holding up her PS5 controller
Louise“Gaming helps me feel less disabled. For me, gaming is about spending time with my friends, indulging in a pass-time we all enjoy and can talk about for hours. I enjoy cross-platform games and play mostly on PlayStation 5. I like a wide range of games really but Minecraft, Dungeons and Dragons, and first-person shooting games are keeping me busy.
“I’ve been part of the RNIB online gaming group since 2021. It was my sister who suggested it during lockdown and said I should try connecting with other people who are blind or partially sighted. At that time, I found I didn’t really have many ways to meet friends. I was hesitant in the beginning, but I’ve made so many friends. I’ve even met someone who has the same condition as me, but it affects her on the opposite side of her body, so we say we are like twins.
“Our group is mainly people from Scotland and Northern Ireland. We meet each Thursday at 4pm on Teams. We talk about what we’re playing, accessibility in games and any latest news from the gaming world. From there, we often set up times to meet and play games. Discord is great because we can all meet online from anywhere, have our mics on, and just chat together while we game, as if there’s no distance between us. To me, it’s freedom and a real community that I belong to.”
RNIB is a key advocate in advancing accessibility in video games, ensuring that players can enjoy games regardless of their level of sight. The charity’s Accessible Gaming Report found that 76% of gamers with sight loss said their ability to play was significantly affected by their condition, while only 15% of surveyed game developers felt they had a sufficient understanding of players’ accessibility needs. Input from blind and partially sighted gamers is vital to shaping the next generation of accessible game design.
James Kyle from RNIB Scotland’s Community Social Action team“We know there are thousands of people with sight loss who enjoy gaming on all the mainstream platforms just as much as those who are fully sighted. Sight loss is a spectrum, and there is so much that game developers can do - from menu narration and high-contrast modes, to scalable UI, and enhanced haptic feedback to make games more playable.
“When we created the VI gaming group, our aim was to provide a safe space where people who loved gaming could come together, share their enthusiasm, and encourage the industry to take notice. Not only have members raised awareness of the need for inclusion, but the group has also created friendships, support networks, and a real sense of community.”
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