Version segregation

A design practice in which a separate, simplified, or modified version of a product, game, or platform is created specifically for disabled users rather than making the main version accessible. While intended to improve access, version segregation often results in social isolation by preventing disabled and non-disabled users from sharing the same environment, interacting, and forming relationships. In gaming, this manifests as separate game clients for blind players that are technically accessible but socially disconnected from the mainstream player base. In web design, it historically appeared as text-only versions of websites. Version segregation reflects a broader pattern of treating accessibility as a parallel track rather than an integrated design concern, and it contradicts inclusive design principles that prioritize shared experiences across abilities.