Draft:Liam Erven

Erven was born blind due to Norrie disease,{{Cite web |last=Link |first=Jeff |date=2021-07-28 |title=Triple-A Publishers Are Finally Taking Game Accessibility Seriously |url=https://builtin.com/articles/video-game-accessibility-blind-low-vision |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=Built In |language=en}} and grew up in Chicago. He became interested in video games at a young age, and "became one of the best Mortal Kombat and Track & Field players on his block". Erven was able to find success with games which used "relatively fixed areas of action," but was largely unable to play games that required navigation, such as Super Mario Bros.

While attending Maine West High School in Des Plaines, Illinois, Erven took a class in Visual Basic 6 and programmed his first game, a "vertically-oriented shooting game somewhat analogous to Space Invaders, but with audio cues to distinguish falling objects".

He later relocated to Oklahoma. He owns a guinea pig named Michelle.https://mastodon.social/%40LiamErven Liam Erven - Mastodon

Erven is best known for his work in making mainstream and independent video games more accessible to the visually impaired. He operates a YouTube channel{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/liamerven|title=Liam Erven|website=YouTube}} where he shares insights into accessible gaming and interacts with the blind gaming community. He also receives support through Patreon, where fans contribute to his projects.

Erven previously worked as a software engineer at Horizons for the Blind. There, he wrote code that allowed users to access condensed, printable Braille phone bills.

One of his most notable projects is Grand Theft Accessibility, a mod for Grand Theft Auto V that provides audio feedback, allowing blind players to navigate the game world. The mod includes features such as location indicators, compass headings, and object detection, significantly improving accessibility.{{Cite web |title=Grand Theft Accessibility: A Mod to Make GTA V Blind Friendly |url=https://uppercutcrit.com/grand-theft-accessibility-a-mod-to-make-gta-v-blind-friendly/ |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=Uppercut |language=en-US}}

Erven has developed multiple audio-based games designed specifically for blind players. His works include:

• Super Egg Hunt Plus: A game where players collect eggs while avoiding a chicken, featuring multiple modes and trophies.{{Cite web |title=Accessible Vintage Games Series, Part 1: Super Egg Hunt Plus |url=https://www.afb.org/aw/21/3/16932 |website=American Foundation for the Blind}}
• Super Liam: One of the first accessible side-scrolling platformers, now available as freeware.{{Cite web |title=Games by LWorks |url=https://www.agarchive.net/pages/devs/lworks.html |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=Audiogames Archive}} The game uses "bi-directional audio clues" to allow players to navigate.
• Judgment Day: An audio game discussed in accessibility gaming communities.

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• {{Cite web |title=Liam Erven|url=https://lifeafterblindness.com/tag/liam-erven/|website=Life After Blindness}}