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Sign Language Accessibility in Tech & Gaming: Microsoft and Sony's Progress


The Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities are larger than many realise, and inclusivity is crucial to ensuring everyone has equal access to communication. In the U.S., around 37.5 million people experience some form of hearing loss, with 1 million using American Sign Language (ASL). In the U.K., 12 million people live with hearing loss, and over 150,000+ use British Sign Language (BSL) as their primary language.


However, there is a significant disparity in support—there is only 1 interpreter for every 85 Deaf individuals, which is a ridiculously low ratio for such a large community, particularly when it comes to professional BSL interpreters. This highlights the gap in providing adequate services and accessibility for the Deaf community.



Microsoft:


American Sign Language (ASL) Support: Microsoft offers support through its Disability Answer Desk, providing assistance via videophone for customers who are Deaf or hard of hearing.


British Sign Language (BSL) Support: While Microsoft UK has partnered with Signly to include BSL interpreters on digital platforms, there is no evidence of dedicated BSL support for customer service in the UK at this time.

(Source: Microsoft UK Stories)


Sony PlayStation:


Customer Support: PlayStation UK provides online resources and contact options such as live chat and phone support. However, there’s currently no dedicated BSL support for customer service.


In-Game Accessibility: PlayStation's Forza Horizon 5 introduced both ASL and BSL support for in-game cinematics, demonstrating a significant step toward inclusivity in gaming.

(Source: Microsoft News)


Conclusion:

While both Microsoft and Sony have made significant strides toward integrating sign language into their platforms, dedicated BSL support in customer service remains limited, particularly for gaming platforms in the UK. With 12 million people in the U.K. and 37.5 million in the U.S. experiencing hearing loss, the fact that there is only 1 interpreter for every 85 Deaf individuals emphasises the urgent need for more resources and accessibility.


The disparity between the number of Deaf individuals and professional registered interpreters highlights the growing need for the tech industry to take further steps in providing equitable support for the Deaf community.





 
 
 

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