Industry News
LEGO Introduces Innovative Braille Learning Tool Ahead of World Blind Awareness Month
In anticipation of World Blind Awareness Month this October, the LEGO Group has unveiled a groundbreaking product aimed at fostering inclusivity and learning for children aged 6 and above. The LEGO® Braille Bricks – Play with Braille, designed in response to global demand, is now available for purchase through LEGO.com for the first time. This innovative educational tool aims to familiarize children and families with braille in a fun and engaging way, regardless of their visual abilities.
The LEGO® Braille Bricks are meticulously designed to cater to blind, partially-sighted, and sighted individuals, allowing them to explore the braille system together at home. This initiative is a significant step towards creating an inclusive learning environment for all children, regardless of their visual capabilities. The product's launch has garnered substantial attention, echoing the company's commitment to making learning accessible to everyone.
Martine Abel-Williamson, President of the World Blind Union, lauded the effort, stating, "LEGO Braille Bricks being made available to the wider public is a massive step forward to ensuring more children will want to learn braille in the first place. And because it's based on a product that so many families already know and love, this is really an invitation for all family members to have fun building tactile skills and getting familiar with braille using the same tool."
Previously, LEGO Braille Bricks were exclusively distributed to specialized educational organizations catering to children with vision impairments. Following the resounding success of these kits since their introduction in 2020, the LEGO Group responded to the overwhelming positive feedback from parents, caregivers, educators, and children by launching the LEGO Braille Bricks – Play with Braille, allowing families to partake in this transformative learning experience from the comfort of their homes.
Lisa Taylor, a mother of two young girls, shared her experience: "To have a set at home changes everything. We can play with braille together as a family and she can introduce braille to her little sister in a way they both love. LEGO braille bricks are accessible for her without being really different for other kids, so she gets to play and learn just like every other child. That makes her feel included which is so important, not just to Olivia but any child."
The LEGO Braille Bricks – Play with Braille set comprises 287 bricks in five distinct colors: white, yellow, green, red, and blue. These bricks seamlessly integrate with other LEGO products, with the studs on each brick aligned with braille symbols and letters. The package includes two baseplates for building and features braille embossing to enhance the overall experience.
To bolster the learning process, a collection of supporting play starters is available on LEGO.com. These interactive resources guide players through the orientation, attachment, and stacking of the bricks using well-loved games such as Rock, Paper, Scissors. This ensures that all family members can join in the fun and learning process.
Rasmus Løgstrup, LEGO Group Lead Designer on LEGO Braille Bricks, expressed excitement about the initiative: "Play has the power to change lives; when children play, they learn vital life-long skills, so we were thrilled by the reception that LEGO Braille Bricks received in educational settings. We've been inundated with thousands of requests to make them more widely available, so we just knew we had to make it happen!"
Additionally, in line with their commitment to inclusivity, the LEGO Group has partnered with the Be My Eyes mobile app. This collaboration aims to provide confidential, live visual assistance to blind and partially sighted individuals using LEGO products through the app's video call feature.
Mike Buckley, Chairman, and CEO of Be My Eyes, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: "Be My Eyes is incredibly honored to partner with the LEGO Group to enable and inspire the creativity of blind and low vision builders across the globe."
The launch of LEGO Braille Bricks – Play with Braille marks a significant stride towards a more inclusive educational landscape, where all children can engage in learning, play, and creativity together.
