Some of my friends love playing tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), and one of them recently sent me a message asking if there was a way to make accessible dice for visually impaired players or a dice rolling device for a player with visual impairment (a term inclusive of blindness, low vision, and neurological visual impairment). After talking to my friend about this other player’s access needs, I sent them a copy of a list of solutions that were successful in helping everyone to have a chance to play this game. Here is a list of tips for how to make dice accessible for low vision gamers and visually impaired gamers in general, including options that go beyond the standard six-sided die.
Create an accessible dice shaker
Dice shakers are a cup or other enclosed container that are used for shaking dice, instead of holding device between the player’s hands. Some dice shakers have a clear top for reading the dice label without having to open the container, while other have an open top so the dice can roll out from the shaker and onto a board, floor, or hand. One example of a game that uses a dice shaker is Yahtzee, but this strategy can be used in other games as well.
Examples of DIY dice shakers include:
- Magnetic tins
- Small snack box with lid
- Plastic condiment cup
- Cup with silicone lid
- Plastic bag with air inflated inside
- Hamster ball (ideal for larger accessible dice)
Dice shakers can be used with one die or with multiple dice pieces. A similar option is a Pop-O-Matic dice roller, which is used in the game Trouble and makes a popping noise- DIY options can be found online. However, players may need to press the Pop-O-Matic twice in order to get a truly random dice roll, something another friend mentioned when I was doing research for this post.
Make each side of the dice a different color
Some people with low vision may have trouble with identifying the number of dots on a set of dice visually, and examining standard dice in a tactile way may not provide enough information since the dots aren’t raised very much. Another option for visual identification is to make each side of the dice a different color, letting the person know which color is equal to each number. This works best on a four-sided die or six-sided die, and when using distinct colors (red, green, blue) instead of tones of the same color (sky blue, cobalt blue, royal blue).
For dice that are faded, another option is to look up a tutorial for re-inking dice. The best option for painting dice will depend on what material it is made from.
Related links
- High Contrast and Low Vision
- Free Braille Art and Tactile Image Libraries: World Braille Day 2024
- How To Adapt Puzzle Games For Low Vision
Consider large print dice
Another option to make dice accessible for low vision players is to play with large print dice, which have higher contrast ink colors, weighted numbers, and are generally easier to see. Also marketed as low vision dice or accessible dice, these can be purchased from educational supply vendors or from accessibility stores like The Low Vision Store or MaxiAids, which is where my personal set was purchased. Large print dice for low vision frequently come in white and yellow colors with black ink, though there are some designs that use color-coding for numbers as well. To accommodate the larger ink surface, the dice themselves are typically 32 mm, twice the size of standard dice.
Roll dice with smart speakers/virtual assistants
Need to quickly roll some dice and don’t have a convenient set? Many smart speakers like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri offer an option for rolling virtual dice. By default, asking these virtual assistance tools to “roll the dice” will roll a six-sided die, though Alexa and Google Assistant can both roll other types of dice, such as:
Roll dice with Amazon Alexa/Roll dice with Amazon Echo:
- Roll (insert number) of dice
- Roll a 4 sided die
- Roll a 6 sided die
- Roll a 10 sided die
- Roll a 12 sided die
- Roll a D20
- Roll a D8
- Roll a (insert number) sided die
- Heads/tails for coins
Roll dice with Google Assistant (plays animation on Android):
- Roll (insert number) of dice, which will show color-coded dice and the total value of numbers added together
- Roll a 4 sided die
- Roll a 6 sided die
- Roll a 10 sided die
- Roll a 12 sided die
- Roll a D20
- Roll a D8
- Roll a (insert number) sided die
- Heads/tails for coins
Related links
Free accessible dice rolling applications
There are several accessible dice rolling applications that can be downloaded onto mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Below, I have linked several free dice rolling apps that support accessibility features like screen readers and large print for blind and low vision users, as well as options for customizing the appearance of dice for people with low vision and neurological visual impairment/cortical visual impairment/CVI.
Related links
- Simple Dice for iOS
- Accessible Dice Roller web app
- Custom Image Dice for Android
- Custom Image Dice files (BoardGameGeek)
- Roll the Bones on the App Store
Order or 3D print Braille dice
Play lots of tabletop games and looking for braille dice? There are a few options to order or 3D print braille dice with tactile labels for free or at a low cost. Some of the sources my friends have used to get braille dice for tabletop role playing games (TTRPGs) include:
- Knights of the Braille Resource sheet
- 3D Printable Braille Dice+
- 64oz Games Store ($)
- https://inclusiveimagination.co/inclusive-dice-series/ (dual media)
- DOTS RPG Non-Profit, offers free dice and 3D printing templates
Try oversized/giant dice
For younger players with low vision who lose dice easily or that benefit from oversized items, giant dice or oversized dice can be a fun option for playing games, and come in a variety of colors and textures. One of the teachers I shadowed would use oversized foam dice with students who were sensitive to the loud noises of multiple dice rolling at the same time, or brought out the larger dice for outdoor game days or hallway activities so that they didn’t get lost. I loved using these because I could easily read the numbers on the side without having to pull out a magnifier or ask a student for help!
Related links
More ideas for accessible dice for low vision
- When storing dice (accessible dice or not), keep them in the same consistent location so that they are easier to locate. If possible, this storage area should be a different color from the die, as otherwise the foreground color may “blend in” to the storage area and make it more challenging to locate.
- For students with cerebral/cortical visual impairment that find it easier to sustain attention on backlit items, LED dice can also be purchased, or virtual dice can be viewed when rolled with Google Assistant on a smartphone or tablet.
- Another option for accessible dice is to roll a standard die underneath a video magnifier or desktop CCTV. Another portable option is to use iOS Magnifier and Low Vision Accessibility
- Looking for accessible digital games? I share a few in Audio Games For Blind/Low Vision Gamers and Accessible Puzzle Game Apps For Low Vision
Published December 4, 2023. Updated December 2024