Reasonable Accommodations for Disabled Players

This page is a draft which has yet to be reviewed by the Tournament Committee.

The Tournament Committee maintains this list of reasonable accommodations for disabled players, handicapped players or players who otherwise have special needs affecting their ability to play according to regular SCRABBLE rules.

Applying for an Accommodation

Players who are unable to play SCRABBLE games according to the regular rules may apply to the Tournament Committee for an accommodation. If a player was awarded an accommodation by the NSA, the Tournament Committee will honor that accommodation. Otherwise, the Committee will consult with the player to determine a reasonable accommodation and list it below. Players who are dissatisfied with the accommodation offered by the Committee may appeal the Committee’s decision to the Advisory Board.

Player Responsibilities

Players are responsible for alerting their tournament directors in time for directors to verify accommodation status with the Committee.

If a player is accommodated by being granted permission to bring an assistant or special equipment, the player is ultimately responsible for ensuring the presence of the assistant or equipment, even though most directors will do their best to help provide them.

Accommodation List

Players may request that they not be identified by name below, but may find it convenient to be listed so that directors can verify their status.

If an accommodation involves an assistant or special equipment, a player is entitled to remain at the same table throughout the tournament, except when playing another accommodated player.

If an accommodation involves an assistant, then a player’s instruction to an assistant is considered equivalent under the rules to the player performing the instructed action.

Category	Accommodation	Players
Auditory disability (moderate)	?
Auditory disability (severe)	Player may require opponent to announce scores by entering them into a calculator provided by the player; opponent is entitled to two extra minutes of clock time if this accommodation is made.
Cognitive disability (mathematical, moderate)	?
Physical disability (mobility)	Player will be assigned to the same table throughout the tournament; the table will be as close to the exit or toilet as possible.
Physical disability (manual dexterity)	An assistant may perform any necessary actions.
Religious restrictions (observes Jewish Sabbath)	An assistant (shabbos goy) may perform any necessary actions.
Visual disability (moderate)	Player may use high-contrast or large-print tiles regardless of opponent’s preference. Player may bring own light source, or be stationed at the table with the brightest available light.
Visual disability (severe)	Player may use Braille tiles, Braille board and Braille writer.