The Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) sets minimum accessibility standards for communication features in video games. Beyond compliance, accessibility in gaming requires ongoing, proactive design that makes games enjoyable for players of all abilities.
- Meeting requirement standards like CVAA is just the starting point. True accessibility innovation comes from designing for the future, where every player — regardless of ability — can enjoy gaming, now and decades into the future.
- Accessibility standards like CVAA are a minimum baseline, not a ceiling. Developers should aim for inclusive design from the start, which means making gaming enjoyable and accessible for every type of player.
- CVAA compliance requires ongoing efforts in the development process, involving accessibility testing and keeping records of those efforts. Leading accessibility initiatives should go further than meeting these requirements, pushing for an industry where accessibility is integral to the design, not just a checkbox at the end.
The Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) is a U.S. law ensuring accessibility for communication features in video games, such as text, voice, and video chat. It covers a wide range of disabilities and aims to make these communication features operable and understandable for all users, regardless of their abilities.
Disabilities covered by CVAA include:
- Blind / low vision / no color perception
- Limited manual dexterity
- Limited reach and strength
- Use of prosthetics
- Inability to use time-dependent controls
- Limited cognitive skills
- Deaf / no speech
History of accessibility guidelines and laws
- 1971 — A landmark lawsuit led to the right of children with disabilities to free public education.
- 1973 — Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibited discrimination based on disability.
- 1975 — The Education for All Handicapped Children Act required schools to provide special services.
- 1988 — The Technology-Related Assistance Act facilitated access to assistive technology.
- 1990 — The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted, prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities.
- 2006 — The National Federation of the Blind won a lawsuit against Target for website inaccessibility.
- 2010 — The Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) required accessible communication functionality in video games.
- 2018 — Section 508 standards were updated to reflect the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0.
CVAA compliance
Games released after December 2018 must be CVAA compliant. Compliance involves:
- Considering accessibility from early development stages.
- Involving people with disabilities in the development process.
- Keeping records of efforts to comply and conducting annual certifications.
Criteria One — Input, control, and mechanical functions must be operable by users with various disabilities, including low vision, no color perception, limited hearing, limited reach and strength, limited manual dexterity, no time-dependent controls, no speech, and limited cognitive skills.
Criteria Two — All necessary information to operate the product must be accessible, including:
- Visual information available in auditory form.
- Visual information accessible to low vision users.
- Moving text available in static presentation mode.
- Auditory information available in visual and tactile forms.
The path forward
While the CVAA is a legal mandate, meeting these requirements should be viewed as a starting point for deeper accessibility practices. Compliance can open larger conversations about innovation in game design, benefiting a wider audience of players. Studios should consider accessibility from the early stages of development and advocate for broader accessibility standards within the industry. Here’s what you can do:
- Integrate accessibility early — Address accessibility needs during the concept and design phases, not after the game is nearly complete.
- Involve the community — Engage players with disabilities throughout the design and development process. Their feedback is critical for understanding the in-real-life application and use of accessibility features.
- Champion accessibility beyond legal requirements — Use CVAA as a foundation, but advocate for innovative solutions that push accessibility to new levels. This could involve incorporating new technology like haptics, voice recognition, and customizable interfaces that break down barriers to gameplay.
- Maintain a culture of accountability — Continually review, test, and document your accessibility efforts to ensure you’re not just compliant, but leading the industry forward.
For developers, studios, and stakeholders, the opportunity is to shift from seeing accessibility as a requirement to seeing it as an opportunity for innovation that benefits all players.
Now what?
Continue reading about accessibility with The Big Picture on Digital Accessibility: Everyone Can Play!
References
- Federal Communications Commission. (n.d.). 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA).
- Hamilton, I. (2019). Demystifying CVAA. Game Developer.
- U.S. Access Board. (n.d.) History of the Access Board.
