Board games for early screening of limited color vision in Italian primary schools

The term “Limited color vision” refers to a condition where a class of cones in the retina functions abnormally, causing the individual to confuse and perceive certain colors in a limited way. Approximately 8.5% of European men and 0.5% of European women suffer from this condition, while in Italy, the number of color deficient individuals is estimated to be around 2.2-2.5 million. Color deficiency is a condition linked to genetic transmission and is therefore present from birth, but often in Italy, it is diagnosed only after adolescence. This study aims to explore the possibility of diagnosing this condition in childhood in a playful manner, using board games, to provide teachers and any potential tutors or educators with tools and techniques for classroom assessment. The paper presents a research project funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, named Game4CED, Gamification for color blindness early detection. The project aims to develop a series of board games as educational tools for early detection of color deficiency, to raise awareness about color deficiency among people, and to enhance the accessibility of board games for color deficient individuals. Additionally, the project seeks to provide new tools for teachers and educators to promote a more inclusive school practice for all children.