Jesse Sanderson, a student in the Media and Information M.A. program, has earned a silver medal at the 2025 Serious Play Conference for The Braille Bistro, a tabletop game designed to build empathy and awareness for accessibility among sighted players.
The Braille Bistro uses a restaurant theme to simulate what it’s like to order a meal while blind. Through this “gameful embodiment” experience, players are encouraged to reflect on accessibility barriers and consider ways to make their own businesses, designs or content more inclusive.
“Accessibility is an area I’ve taken an interest in over the last several years,” Sanderson said.
“The idea for The Braille Bistro came from reading a research study focused on how a simulation experience could lead to more empathy and action toward making the world a more accessible place. As someone who believes that games are an effective way to make meaningful impacts, I thought about how an experience like this could be transformed into a game.”
Sanderson, who currently serves as a digital accessibility intern with TechSmith, said the project was also inspired by a social media post about the difference a braille menu can make for a diner who is used to experiencing inaccessibility.
“I’m very happy and grateful to have received this award,” Sanderson said. “The feedback from the judges at the Serious Play Conference was very valuable and has given me a lot to think about in terms of how to frame the reflective experience the game creates. I’m also thankful to the MSU Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities for helping me out and providing insight into the game along the way.”
Sanderson said they plan to continue refining The Braille Bistro based on player feedback, including perspectives from people who are blind or have low vision, to further test the game’s impact on empathy and understanding.
The Serious Play Conference, an annual event recognizing excellence in serious games and simulations, honors titles that use game-based approaches for education, training, and social impact.
More information about The Braille Bistro is available on Sanderson’s website: jesseeasanderson.com
By Claire Dippel