Talk Town: A Revolutionary Digital Game For Young Deaf People

Project 2018-06-08 14:36:58 +1200

Talk Town is a digital game which will be revolutionary for young deaf people.

Designed and built by Zoë Hector (nee Haws), the game will help to build social and self-advocacy skills. Through playing the game, users will gain valuable skills that will help them to connect with their local communities - and, importantly, reduce feelings of social isolation. 

This PledgeMe Crowdfunding campaign will raise the funds required to make Talk Town a reality - help us bring this game to life, to better help deaf children be included in playgrounds across the world. 

Thanks to the support of the Talk Town community, we have been able to begin to build the infrastructure for Talk Town. Now, we need your help to raise the last bit of development capital so that Talk Town can become a reality. 100% of monies raised will directly pay for the animation and programming of the game, and publishing it online.

In Talk Town, players can create a character that wears the same devices and communicates like them. They then follow through everyday situations (such as ordering lunch or clarifying instructions), allowing them to practice communicating and engaging with others. The game is fun, child-led and fully accessible - aiming to help deaf children feel more empowered.

The Mayor of Talk Town

Designed and built by Zoë Hector (nee Haws), the game will help to build social and self-advocacy skills. During her time as a teacher aide, Zoë saw deaf children left out of playground games and conversations because they found it difficult to read social cues and form connections. Because many deaf children attend mainstream schooling, social isolation is inadvertently often perpetuated due to these social cues and misunderstanding - something that Talk Town aims to change.

Zoë decided to train as an audiologist; motivated by her experience growing up with a deaf sibling and her desire to make a tangible difference to people’s lives. She has completed her Masters of Audiology in 2018, after working for several years as a researcher in developmental psychology and Deaf studies. She is uniquely positioned to make Talk Town a reality for deaf children around the world.

A resource that will change lives

Talk Town won the 2017 Entre $85K Start Up Challenge in and went on to win the Social Enterprise Kick Start category in the 2018 BNZ Start Up Alley, and has been described as “desperately needed” and a “resource that will change lives” by parents and teachers alike.

By pledging towards Talk Town, you’re kick-starting the creation of a game that will help deaf children be included in playgrounds across the world.

This Crowdfunding campaign will raise the funds required to finish the build, and make Talk Town a reality. By pledging, you'll be a part of bringing this game to life, meaning deaf children will have a better chance to be included in playgrounds across the world. Please share this widely with your networks as well.

Thank you for your support so far, and for continuing to be a part of this journey.

For more information contact Zoë, the Mayor of Talk Town, at: [email protected].

For a transcript of the Talk Town video, click here.  

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