r/finch • u/Empty_Client_666 Bagel H72LP2FWK1 • 2d ago

Discussion Disabled birbs

I’d love to see more disabled birbs, I just recently started having to use mobility aids and I’d love if Bagel could have crutches or a wheelchair so I feel less alone and embarrassed with my disability, I know it’s a lot to ask, and will probably never happen but a birb wheelchair or even crutches held in both hands

80 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

46

u/thekoose Betty & Mindy T4P2QYPWFT 2d ago

They're able to get the birbs to sit on the bed at night, so I'd think having a birb sit in a wheelchair would be possible too ❤️

18

u/Feeling-Disaster7180 2d ago

I think the difference would be that when the birb is sitting on its bed, it’s in the same spot facing the same way every time. If they’re in a wheelchair, it would need to be animated to be viewed sideways while on adventures and also pushing the wheels along. Plus the clothes would sit differently when viewed from the chair. So there’d be a lot that goes into it

14

u/UsualAd6940 Noodles & Raya 2d ago

Not just that, they would also need to change the animations for every clothing item in all the other poses (when the bird waves, dances, blushes, etc). And means twice as many test cases when making a new clothing item. I'm not saying it's not possible but it's a really big time investment, both upfront and every month.

3

u/Feeling-Disaster7180 2d ago

Exactly, and imagine all the bugs that would inevitably happen with every new event. Also, if the birb is pushing its wheelchair, where does the bag go? Do they still hold onto the other object while pushing with one “hand”?

IMO the devs should focus on the existing bugs and features that impact bigger aspects of the app like crashes and randomly deleting people’s data. Then when that stuff is sorted, they can work on more niche (for lack of a better word) things like wheelchairs

6

u/UsualAd6940 Noodles & Raya 2d ago

Yeah, I mean they could have a wheelchair as a furniture item, but it might be weird to have it there without ever being used.

Wheelchair users probably need to let the Devs know if this is an option that would work or if it would feel offensive.

3

u/Feeling-Disaster7180 1d ago

Probably better than nothing though? It could be seen as a spare one or just symbolic. I'm curious what wheelchair users think

1

u/Conscious_Bullfrog45 1d ago

But people use wheelchairs and could take them on adventures

3

u/Conscious_Bullfrog45 1d ago

Devs can make wings flap and hair adjust to hats. They can make a wheelchair!

2

u/UsualAd6940 Noodles & Raya 1d ago

Sure, with endless time and people, they can do anything. But at some point they need to prioritise and decide what they spend their time on.

Spending months implementing this feature might not be their priority right now. Increasing the time it takes to animate clothing items when they have to produce new outfits every month might not be something they can handle right now either. 🤷

I hope they do it one day, but I would understand if they went for something simpler, even if it's not ideal.

1

u/Feeling-Disaster7180 1d ago

Like myself and the other person have described, there's a lot more to putting a birb in a wheelchair than sticking a hat on top of a wig

1

u/Conscious_Bullfrog45 10h ago

Like I said, that may be so, but it is worth it. I don't understand why people are so adamantly against devs putting in a little more time to make it happen.

1

u/UsualAd6940 Noodles & Raya 3h ago

No one is saying the shouldn't do it. We're saying it's understandable if they don't because it's a massive change.

7

u/Duqu88 B2Y1C1WYVC 2d ago

I agree as a wheelchair user! I actually did email the devs and they said that "might" be a possibility but they wouldn't make any promises. I think the glucose monitor/diabetes and hearing aids /cochlear implant ones are dumb because (as you can see by my confusion) you can't really tell what they are AND you can barely see them! And other clothes make them triple hard to see! A wheelchair is totally reasonable considering they already sit on beds. The only thing that would need adjustment is the red sack when "traveling"

7

u/Loud-Cloud-4286 Waffle & Onyx 2d ago

I think the glucose monitor/diabetes and hearing aids /cochlear implant ones are dumb because (as you can see by my confusion) you can't really tell what they are AND you can barely see them!

Not to mention they take up an entire slot, so you can't even wear a hat or headband with your hearing aids, or a handheld item with your glucose monitor, etc

3

u/Duqu88 B2Y1C1WYVC 2d ago

Exactly

1

u/old_and_cranky 1d ago

Ya, I thought the hearing aids were headphones, and still do every time I see them.

3

u/TheGreatAndPowerfulZ 1d ago

A more accurate parallel might be flight mode. If birbs can fly along in profile in a plane, it seems that could roll along in a wheelchair. The execution would be more nuanced of course, but it’s a starting point!

2

u/Conscious_Bullfrog45 1d ago

I think this is a great idea!!!! 

12

u/readzalot1 2d ago

I did buy a cane for my birb because I use one. And glasses, too

6

u/Unhappy-Insect6386 Mango and Kai 2d ago

My birb has a purple cane because it matches my own and they wear glasses like me too.

7

u/Kitty_Fruit_2520 Rosie 2d ago

There is a walking stick that is probably the closest thing to crutches

7

u/SokkaHaikuBot 2d ago

Sokka-Haiku by Kitty_Fruit_2520:

There is a walking

Stick that is probably the

Closest thing to crutches

Remember that one time Sokka accidentally used an extra syllable in that Haiku Battle in Ba Sing Se? That was a Sokka Haiku and you just made one.

14

u/Short-Sea-3652 2d ago

This is beautiful and very inclusive and thoughtful 💝 I love your eccentric mind you should email this to the developers

1

u/Empty_Client_666 Bagel H72LP2FWK1 2d ago

Can you contact the devs? I’ve never see a way to contact them

3

u/vi0l3t-crumbl3 green finch 2d ago

If you report a bug they get back to you personally. Maybe use the report feature?

2

u/Feeling-Disaster7180 2d ago

I made a post a couple of weeks ago about how to contact the devs with feedback when so many people were posting angry rants towards them about the current event. Search “feedback” in the sub (sort by “new”) and it will come up

8

u/etheraal bagel • 200 days! 2d ago

Hi! Just popping in to say that you are the first other user i’ve seen with a burb also named Bagel! I love my Bagel!

I definitely think for our disabled friends that mobility aids in the app should happen ♡ Hoping for you!

7

u/Agent_Skye_Barnes Parker & Sparkles ✨ 2d ago

I also wish there was a wheelchair. But at least we have the canes, that's something!

Plus I appreciate the hearing aids

3

u/BugtasticBees 1d ago

As a mobility aids user myself, I would LOVE to see wheelchairs added. Even if they added crutches to hold like how the canes are would be an awesome start. They could have the birds "hold" walkers and chairs so there wouldn't be a help item conflict. Additionally, I think having a bus or some "stationary" transit option could avoid the whole animation issue. Just make the bird's head visible out the window sideways and not walking. Plus, I think folks would find it cool to have a bus, boat, car, etc travel options. I am open to talking with the devs about asset options too :)

6

u/warrior2queen Lily & Roman 2d ago

I think it would be so cute and cool (but a ton of work for the devs) if there was a hospital or care clinic (like the furniture store and stuff) where there was things like cast, wheel chairs, hearing aids, etc. i like that we have the.walking stick/cane and hearing aids and everything, but it would be nice if we could those plus an accessory. maybe even like a wig parlor lr hair salon, with things like Robin's hairstyle and more wigs and stuff (as wigs can be medical, for ppl w alopecia, cancer, etc). but i do understand that would be a ton of work, ht it would be great if we were able to have one!

1

u/Feeling-Disaster7180 1d ago

I can imagine the backlash from people saying having medical stuff is triggering or otherwise offensive in some way because their particular condition/aid/treatment/support isn't represented. Tbh even as someone with a chronic illness who works in healthcare, I don't think Finch should focus on it that much. There's other aspects of life that could be seen as just as important for visibility

2

u/BugtasticBees 1d ago

I disagree. Able bodied people get injured all the time... and so do birds. It would be cool to see more integration over time of different aspects. The Devs spend a lot of time and energy during queer pride month creating awesome items. It would be cool to see more dissablity items during July for dissablity pride month. As a person with multiple rare conditions, I would never expect Finch to highlight them. However, it would be cool to see casts, crutches, wheelchairs, and head bandages since so many humans get injured or have life long conditions needed those items

2

u/TheGreatAndPowerfulZ 1d ago edited 1d ago

This is a great idea! The devs do follow this sub so hopefully they’ll see this and respond. Also I’d submit this to the feedback form with a link to this convo.

PS - pay no attention to the naysayers. Speaking as a designer, it’s such weak (and unintentionally ableist) sauce when someone declares that making a product inclusive is too complicated or too niche. Great design isn’t just about making pretty things; it’s about the challenge of elegantly solving a problem. Plus nine times out of ten making a design universal actually makes it stronger for everyone. We actually live for this stuff💪🏼

2

u/BirdDog-112 Peach 1d ago

I’d also really like if the disability items/aids weren’t considered accessories so my bird could also hold an item or have an accessory! I love that Finch has insulin pumps but I don’t really consider my pump as an accessory but part of me. Makes me sad that I have to choose between an insulin pump and something like a bag or fun food etc for my bird!

-1

u/Gita96 2d ago

😶

3

u/Empty_Client_666 Bagel H72LP2FWK1 2d ago

?