I am a passionate gamer, part of the blind community. My game of choice is Stardew Valley, a world I enjoy becoming part of, despite my visual barriers. Like many in my community, I've resorted to using a mod called Stardew Access that allows us to play using tts, NVDA, and similar tools. The frustration, however, strikes when the game updates. The painstaking wait for the mod to update impacts our gameplay experience. The truth is, reinstalling and waiting for an updated mod is time-consuming and obstructs the joy of gaming.

Now, I question why we, the blind community, should endure such hindrance when sighted players get to enjoy the play without interruption. This struggle has made me realize the dire need for native blind accessibility in games, particularly Stardew Valley.

Statistics show that there are 285 million visually impaired people worldwide, with 39 million being completely blind (World Health Organization, 2021). A considerable number of these individuals are gamers who are left out due to the absence of built-in accessibility. Implementing native blind accessibility in Stardew Valley would not only cater to this substantial community but also promote inclusivity in gaming.

Hence, I urge the game developers, as well as the broader gaming community, to support this cause. Each one of us deserves equal access to the joy of gaming, regardless of our physical capabilities. Let our voices be echoed till we attain our goal. Please sign the petition and be a part of this significant change.