Today, Whitethorn Games has appointed Britt Dye as their first Chief Accessibility Officer. This makes Dye one of the first, if not the first, Chief Accessibility Officers in the industry. It places her in a unique role for the industry, one that has not yet been seen for indie publishers.
We have seen Britt Dye presenting the accessibility showcase from Whitethorn Games before. She has also shared her expertise in articles and on conferences. She has appeared at US GAConf 2022, Bootcamp de Diversidade, and LibCon among others. Since joining the company in 2021 she has been instrumental in ensuring Whitethorn’s titles are accessible to as many players as possible. In her new role she will continue to champion initiatives driving the company’s mission to create inclusive and accessible gaming experiences for all.
“I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished in terms of accessibility at Whitethorn Games,” Dye has commented on her appointment. “However, I recognize that we have a long way to go. We are constantly learning and growing as a company in this space, and I am excited to see what new research, community feedback, and learning we’ve gained through collaboration with accessibility-focused organizations we can implement in the years to come.”
“We believe that gaming should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities or background”
Dr. Matthew White, CEO of Whitethorn Games
This appointment demonstrates Whitethorn Games’ ongoing commitment to accessibility. There are people in director level accessibility roles in the industry, such as David Tisserand (Ubisoft) and Anita Mortaloni (Xbox). But up until now we haven’t seen an accessibility role at the highest level of an organization yet. A “chief of” role means a seat at the table in the highest level of discussions. A direct influence on how the company operates. As a publisher, this will also mean this priority is passed down to the developers they work with. And make it easier for those developers to prioritize accessibility themselves.
Commenting on the appointment, Whitethorn CEO Dr. Matthew White stated the following. “We believe that gaming should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities or background. By appointing Britt Dye as our Chief Accessibility Officer, we’re taking a significant step forward in our mission to make gaming a more inclusive and enjoyable experience for all.”
Congratulations to both Britt Dye and Whitethorn Games on this exciting news. We are looking forward to seeing what the future holds!
