Tara Voelker
@LadieAuPair
Followers
9,709
Following
687
Media
4,219
Statuses
29,334
Senior Accessibility Producer at @Netflix Games | Co-Director of Award-Winning @GA_Conf | @BAFTA Member | Indie Brewery Bartender | be accessible, do crime ✨
Night Springs
Joined January 2010
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
baekhyun
• 522510 Tweets
Linkin Park
• 164434 Tweets
Adalet
• 154267 Tweets
For Asia
• 136829 Tweets
Chester
• 85236 Tweets
小泉進次郎
• 68536 Tweets
ベイマックス
• 40194 Tweets
知的レベル
• 34158 Tweets
エイリアン
• 33584 Tweets
資さんうどん
• 32424 Tweets
雇用統計
• 32177 Tweets
すかいらーく
• 28901 Tweets
大阪府警
• 26338 Tweets
#INZM_HyperBandLive
• 25363 Tweets
#Mステ
• 22430 Tweets
#Number_1
• 21880 Tweets
#ビリスク
• 16876 Tweets
押し出し
• 14361 Tweets
Hyper Band Live M/V
• 13810 Tweets
神ちゃん
• 13591 Tweets
佐藤勝利
• 11231 Tweets
Pinned Tweet
Get your tickets now!
📢 SURPRISE
🎟️Tickets are officially LIVE!
We know some companies have a fiscal year that ends this month, so we thought it might be useful to get it up now for anyone who has some use it or lose it budget.
0
15
24
0
4
9
In my career I’ve been:
- asked who I slept with to get my job
- accused of sleeping with a coworker because I was “nice” to them
- mistaken for a “booth babe” at E3 because I couldn’t possibly be on the dev team
- told at a business dinner I should leave with my new soulmate
30
221
3K
📣 BIG NEWS 📣
After some uncertainty after Mixer’s closure, I’m excited to announce I have finally been cemented in a new role.
👋🏻 Say hello to Xbox’s newest full time Game Accessibility PM.
I can’t wait to dive in 🥳
132
49
1K
✨Job Update: Role Change✨
I'm moving to
@Xbox
Studios to help our 1st party dev teams make games more accessible!
I've loved all of the projects I've worked over the last year doing full-time accessibility, but I'm incredibly excited to be 100% back into
🎮VIDEO GAMES🎮
80
54
1K
You can calculate how long someone has been in game dev by how long they look at mirrors and water in game
32
63
867
✨NEWS ✨
I can't even believe this is real.
I not only have a full time game accessibility job, but I'm a lead? At Xbox?
No one wake me up if this is a dream.
122
25
718
When I started at Irrational, I was the Multiplayer QA Lead. When I left, I was technically QA Level Lead but honestly spent 50% of my time as a personal Ken secretary, sitting in 1:1 meetings to take very specific notes, entering them in as tasks, and following up with Rod.
It took a lot for Irrational Games to get BioShock Infinite over the finish line
7
26
253
11
81
697
I handled yesterday's
@ForzaHorizon
win for Innovation in Accessibility during last night's
@thegameawards
with elegance and grace
26
32
644
Happy to hear
@ea_accessible
enforcing what's been said all
#GDC17
⚠️THESE CHANGES AREN'T JUST FOR DISABLED GAMERS. ⚠️
#gamedev
#a12y
10
356
606
You know the only thing preventing me from stealing this from the
@DoubleFine
offices today is that it won’t fit on my carry on.
7
16
515
I wanna see more disabled people on panels that are on a topic other than accessibility
6
96
504
We didn't know this was coming. We found out right before you.
35
65
462
We're hiring at Netflix Games - I know of open production, QA, 3D art and engineering roles for sure.
Please feel free to reach out 💔
38
252
454
HOLT SHIT
I THOUGHT UBISOFT WAS GOING TO TAKE IT
XGS WINS MOST DEDICATED TO ACCESSIBILITY
I’M XGS ACCESSIBILITY LEAD 🤯
@CanIPlayThat
15
16
426
Matt Booty: *important and deep thoughts about the gaming business during company meeting*
Xbox Game Studios Employees: THERE IS A CAT, SHOW US THE CAT!!! 🐈⬛
17
14
412
Cats out of the bag! 🐈
Say hello to the new Disability at Microsoft ERG Co-Chair.
Excited to help make sure
@Microsoft
is a great place to work for people with disabilities. ❤️✨
49
16
426
I am so proud of the work that EVERYONE across Xbox Game Studios had to do to make this happen 💚
The most dedicated publisher regarding accessibility at this year's
#CIPTAwards
was
@Xbox
!
Congratulations on everything this year!
@XboxP3
@majornelson
@steinekin
@LadieAuPair
9
99
794
2
24
411
I am amazed every day that I am the head of accessibility for Xbox Game Studios.
The fact that my leadership in studios fully trusts me to build this program as I see fit is so amazing.
🤯
Of course couldn’t due it without it my supporting teams, but still.
19
6
390
Today is my last day at Xbox 💚
I'm so proud of the program we've built & I know it will last thanks to the incredible accessibility champs across our studios.
Taking a few weeks off before starting something new post
#GAConf
.
Thank you all for the memories and the journey 🎮
56
20
384
Accessibility for
#ForzaHorizon5
will continue in patches shortly after launch with the addition of ASL/BSL interpreters for cutscenes!
Check it out 👀
#gamdev
#a11y
16
74
373
It’s officially my first day as Senior Accessibility Producer at Netflix Games!
I have so much to ramp up on but I’m so excited to be here ❤️
61
10
377
Just so you know HOW MUCH we didn't know this was coming, last week they asked me to send in my picture for our town hall to celebrate my 3 year Mixer anniversary
26
45
341
Hi my soon to be
#ActivisionBlizzard
co-workers!
Once the papers are all signed, you are all welcome to join the Xbox Game Studios Accessibility Champs program!
We meet every month, have all sorts of trainings, guest speakers, and opportunities to talk to other studios!
19
39
345
One of my friends just described “watermelon status” projects.
They’re projects that have a green status to stakeholder/external groups but an internal red status to the actual project teams.
I really like this term! A fun word for a terrible problem. 🍉
8
37
332
I MISSED THE ACCESSIBILITY AWARD WAS MOVED TO PRESHOW SO I MISSED IT LIVE
Then everyone just started texting me congrats 😂😭
15
8
329
Hi! You may have seen me cry on the internet this week after the Forza Horizon 5 win for Innovation in Accessibility.
Let’s talk about why I became a ball bag -
A Thread 🧵
8
41
319
I have gotten news that I am being relocated to another team in Xbox. I am not going to be sharing any additional details at this time, but once I've moved and landed, I'll let you know about my next adventure. 🎮
17
5
311
I've been helping to get this launched & it's available to Insiders now!
Xbox Party Chat, used by tens of millions of gamers for voice & text chat, will now support transcribing speech into text & synthesis of speech from text 💚
Read more about it here :
16
70
305
Thank you so much
@remedygames
for the package 💕
I love all the contents, but this one is extra special ✨🔦
13
13
289
omg I am over here ugly crying on my stream after winning
31
7
285
This is how “I really want to make sure the core loop is fun before I consider accessibility implications” manifests in games
7
78
284
oh god, we have a new PM on my team and she's young and bright-eyed and has such high hopes for gaming changing the world and accessibility
SHE MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS
13
4
248
Don't forget -
@WatchMixer
is featuring streamers with disabilities throughout the day for
#GAAD
♿️
-- in addition to a new sticker for chat!
9
53
231
Imagine being a person who gets upset when they see accessibility options in games.
Like, did your mom just not hug you enough as a child?
18
26
235
I know it’s silly but I still get excited to see my name in the credits. The fact that I have multiple titles as “Accessibility Lead” under my belt blows my mind.
13
1
233
hey gaming sites, can we maybe cover accessibility stuff all the time
7
35
206
☺️Accessibility Folks: Inclusive design and accessibility options can unlock games for disabled gamers
😡Them: Just git gud, that would ruin Elden Ring, they would never do that
😈Grant: Well ACTUALLY -
👀
6
55
203
Building an accessible game starts with having a culture that values disabled gamers.
1
59
201
Xbox One
Xbox One S
Xbox One X
Xbox Series X
Xbox Series S
Xbox X One X Series
Xbox 7
The Fate of the Xbox
X9
25
26
195
I’m not crying, YOU’RE CRYING 😭
Years ago I was told no one would listen to me about accessibility because it wasn’t main stream. Now it’s in a
#SuperBowl
ad.
So I guess, uh, SUCK IT, HATERS. 😘
10
28
194
every time you tweet about Dark Souls difficulty, an accessibility lead develops a drinking habit
5
31
192
I’m sad beyond words to share the passing of my father.
Dad was very proud of his kids, time in the service & his Forza 2 ranking, placing Top 200 worldwide for the Class A fastest lap in the New York Circuit.
In his honor, please donate a book to your local library.
48
3
194
Mis nuevos seguidores, no escribo en español con frecuencia. Pero ahora que están aquí, tal vez lo haga! <3 Gracias!
11
16
184
Elden Ring is not accessible to everyone by any standard, but the fact that at least one group of people are able to play with less barriers than previous titles while sticking to the game's core pillars shows that inclusive design can and does work without "ruining" games.
2
39
185
WAIT!
One last memory. I remember the day remappable controls got cut. The feature was buggy & we didn't have time to fix it.
I stormed into Rod's office and started crying.
He gave me a glass of whiskey and let me cry it out while we talked about how hard this project was.
10
3
177
everyone - calm down. It's totally fine.
THE STUDIO HAS A SINGLE WOMAN WHO JUST DIDNT MAKE THE PHOTO
10
9
177
With today's update for
@WatchMixer
Embers, we also added
⚠️CUSTOMIZABLE CHAT COLORS⚠️
Go! Update them! Make them work for you! Set your favorite colors or make them colorblind friendly!
💙
#streaming
#a11y
#mixermagic
13
62
176
I'M NOT CRYING THE ACCESSIBILITY CATEGORY IS A PERMANENT FIXTURE AT THE GAME AWARDS, YOU ARE
#TheGameAwards
#a11y
5
18
178
Gamers yelling in the comments “DON’T RUIN OUR GAME WITH EASY MODE” when
1) it’s not YOUR game
2) I didn’t ask for it
I want intentional inclusive design & product flexibility so the level of challenge presented to you equals the reward from beating it, so everyone has fun ✨
9
31
170
Need accessibility support in Starfield?
Whether it’s a question, a design struggle, or a missing feature -
💫 Please report through the Bethesda support page! 💫
This is the only way we can guarantee your feedback makes it to the dev team.
7
99
168
I'm literally getting texts asking if I'm okay and if I am still alive post Alan Wake 2 announcement
6
8
164
Last year I cried because the Innovation in Accessibility Award Existed. This year I cried because
#ForzaHorizon5
won.
8
18
166
I have a full-time job working in game accessibility.
It's so surreal.
I never thought it would be a real thing.
And here we are.
14
0
167
We've learned that accessibility is more than just options. You have to ensure that you're focusing on intentional design. Checklists, no matter what type, aren't a substitute. You must be intentionally inclusive every step of the way.
2
34
161
If you’re one of the Xbox folks laid off - PLEASE reach out, Netflix Gaming has several roles open:
2
91
164
Thrilled to announce I've been accepted as a
@BAFTA
member!
Not only is it a tremendous honor to be recognized by such a prestigious institution personally, it shows video games are embracing accessibility as a cornerstone of our industry.
My dad would be proud. 💕
20
4
163
The
@Xbox
Adaptive Controller 411:
-$99.99 USD
-Launches 2018
-19 3.5mm input jacks & 2 USB ports
-Internal Ion Lithium battery
-2 Large Programmable buttons on top
-3 Custom profiles & 1 default on device
💋Sexy as hell
#XboxAdaptiveController
#a11y
#gamingforeveryone
3
38
146
Did you know about adding alt text on Twitter? It’s not only easy, but super fast to do!
Alt text is how screen readers are able to describe pictures. It especially important when your image has important text!
4
61
150
QA found the bug. They always find the bug.
They don't fix the bugs though. Please stop blaming QA. ♥️
Game devs, what's something that you wish the general public knew about making games?
295
302
2K
1
25
153
So, this trophy arrived for me to send out AFTER
@TangoGameworks
closed.
I’ve tried reaching out to some folks, but no response yet.
Any idea how I get this to SOMEONE who worked on the Hi-Fi Rush dev team?
6
43
152
If I had $5 for every time a horror game had an uncaptioned, ringing telephone that was critical to plot advancement, I’d have enough money to fund my own accessible horror game studio by now.
9
21
150
Reflecting recent layoffs, it's crucial to recognize a concerning trend – individuals in the inclusion and DE&I space are disproportionately affected. Diverse candidates, who often face barriers to reaching positions of power, find themselves at the forefront of these cuts. 1/2
3
51
147
I am being told I still have a job, I don't know what the job is yet. 🤷♀️
25
3
139
In a hurry but still trying to be inclusive and accessible with your Twitter videos?
No worries!
Here are some ✨INCREDIBLY EASY ✨options to get captions 💥FAST💥 so you don't leave anyone out.
🧵a thread
1
83
137
Remember when COUNTLESS accessibility advocates asked for some sort of indoor mode at launch?
#a11y
"Niantic announced the game will see more updates that focus on improving the at-home experience including remote ways to raid."
1
56
136
Hi, I’m *the* Tara Voelker!
With their second game award of the night, the award for Innovation in Accessibility presented by
@chevrolet
goes to
@forzahorizon
5!
#TheGameAwards
28
213
2K
10
7
139
For me personally, gaming is a key part of my mental health routine, so I wrote this post -
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month,
@Xbox
is amplifying voices of empathy, honesty, and mental health awareness. Learn more:
#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
15
207
1K
5
28
134
✨How it started:
“We're researching... audio and tactile feedback options that might one day allow a completely sightless gamers to play a Forza game.”-
@jonk1969
🔥How it's going:
Blind Driving Assists (BDA) announced
4
34
134
if you only fund your accessibility team so they can do compliance verification, then they're a compliance team, not accessibility.
Accessibility is so much more than a checklist.
2
51
139
Wow. Just walked out of a local grill I'm always at and the owner walked up and told me it was a "Muslim free zone." Wtf. Not cool.
148
637
120
As today draws to a close, so does my last day of officially being the Gaming and Disability Community Lead as part of Gaming for Everyone 💚
It’s been an amazing journey, and can’t wait to see what the new leads do. ✨
6
1
137
To people with disabilities who felt included at Mixer because WE PURPOSEFULLY DID THAT - I'm sorry it went down like this.
I'm sorry that we're throwing accessibility features like Share Controller in the trash because no one thought about what they meant to the community.
7
22
131
After an amazing 5 years, I am stepping down as Lead of the Gaming & Disability employee resource group at Xbox.
It's time for someone else to have the opportunity.💚
& Yes, I'll still be around, lurking on the steering committee for a bit, you can't get rid of me that easy.
4
2
133
I worked with our store team to organize this campaign and I’m very proud 💚
6
12
129
It was incredibly hard to do my *actual* job of leading a team of ... I don't remember, 12 or 14, because I wasn't available because of the Ken meetings for huge chunks of the day.
2
1
129
I cannot go on enough about how great just getting a hair cut/color by a professional so great for my mental health
14
1
130