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I talk a big game about building inclusive environments, but I rarely get to test how resilient those environments are when communication completely, spectacularly breaks down.
Well, last week, the universe called my bluff. My house devolved into the world's most pathetic triage center.
Patient A (My boyfriend, Tim): Recovering from eye surgery. Effectively blind in one eye, and strictly banned from looking at screens or reading.
Patient B (Me): Nursing a mild cold that mutated into full-blown laryngitis. I entirely lost my voice.
We had to slow down and rest. But how on earth do two broken people pass the time? Movies were out. Board games were too visual. Books were a no-go.
We resorted to audiobooks and made it halfway through The Lord of the Rings before Tim turned to me and asked: “Do you think we could play D&D?”
Can D&D Pass The Ultimate Inclusivity Test?
D&D can exist entirely in the theater of the mind, and I’m always preaching about tabletop games being accessible to different abilities. Now was the time to put my money where my mouth was.
I’d DM without speaking, and he’d play without seeing.
So, we adapted. He played a level 4 assassin rogue while I managed his character sheet. To communicate, I typed my game narration into Speechify, letting a dapper English AI voice act as my vocal cords.
Was it seamless? Pacing is tough when the Dungeon Master needs a solid minute to type out a goblin's dying words.
But we kept at it and it worked!
After three hours, Tim told me it was one of the most engaging games of D&D he’s played in a long time.
This wonderful experiment is the exact reason I love bringing D&D into the workplace.
Whether a team member is quiet, neurodivergent, or just navigating a challenging week, the gaming table strips away the rigid pressure to communicate in one "normal" way. It creates a structured, level playing field where everyone has a safe space to collaborate, solve problems, and be heard.
The table doesn't ask you to show up a certain way—it just asks you to show up.
Let’s roll!
Laura
P.S. We are starting to book virtual and in-person holiday parties🎅🏻 If you’d like to chat about bringing a game your team, put some time on my calendar and let’s chat.
🎤 Join me at these events:
September 24th Disrupt HR Detroit
September 30th D&D at Work Roundtable (Free!)
🎒 Free Loot for Your Party (Resources)
The Team Inclusivity Scorecard: If you're planning a team event, run it through this checklist first to make sure you aren't accidentally excluding anyone from the adventure. 👉 Get the free scorecard
What's Your Workplace D&D Class? Are you the office Bard hyping up the marketing deck, or a spreadsheet-wielding Paladin? 👉 Take our quick quiz to find your true corporate alignment.
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