The best part of Adam Henderson\u2019s (BA \u201920) job as a game designer is knowing that children with disabilities are playing \u2014\u00a0and loving \u2014 his video games.<\/p>\n
The Brock Game Design graduate says he believes \u201cgames should be able to be enjoyed by everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now a student in the Department of Digital Humanities\u2019 new Master of Arts in Game Studies program<\/a>, Henderson is passionate about shaping the future of accessible gaming.<\/p>\n He and Agusia Krzywinska (BSc ’20), a Game Programming graduate, are developing innovative, accessible gaming content for CBC Kids through their indie game studio, Adjective Noun Studios<\/a>, in St. Catharines.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, the studio won a 2025 Award of Excellence for Best Gaming or Interactive Experience at the Youth Media Awards<\/a> for the CBC Kids<\/a> game Echo Hunter, created in partnership Falling Squirrel<\/a>.<\/p>\n The team has been collaborating with CBC for two years creating accessible games. That experience has inspired Henderson\u2019s master\u2019s thesis research on accessibility in games and how it is applied.<\/p>\n According to Henderson, many games are not accessible for people with low vision or mobility impairments.<\/p>\n \u201cIn a lot of cases, it\u2019s up to the player to get a controller that works for their needs, or to download software that uses screen readers,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n While the interactive media industry is progressing in this space, Henderson said there is more work to do.<\/p>\n His master\u2019s research targets game developers and explores the impact of considering accessibility at the beginning of game creation.<\/p>\n \u201cIf game developers can think at the ground level about what the characters in the game will be doing, add-on elements will improve the user experience for all players, not just those with accessibility needs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Working with CBC Kids has allowed Henderson to put his research into practice.<\/p>\n While Adjective Noun Studios\u2019 award-winning CBC game was made specifically for players who have low vision, it was nearly impossible for to play for people who are deaf or hard of hearing because it relied so heavily on sound design.<\/p>\n The team aimed to make their newest game, Fisher\u2019s Meadow<\/a>, accessible for a wider audience.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there is a cricket chirping, you can both hear it and see it. This type of integration is key to moving the needle in accessible games,\u201d Henderson said.<\/p>\n Henderson came to Brock with a passion for games but had never made one. He credits Brock\u2019s Game Design program, which partners with Niagara College, for giving him both the Humanities and theoretical training and technical skills needed to thrive in the industry.<\/p>\n Brock LINC<\/a> also played a key role in his success and launching a successful startup.<\/p>\n