Lego Braille Bricks: Making Learning Braille an Inclusive Adventure for All

August 25, 2023 2:51 am Published by Fridah Mlemwa

An image of children playing Lego braille blocks

Since their introduction in 2020, Lego Braille Bricks have been transforming the educational landscape for individuals with blindness or partial sight. Originally limited to select educational organizations through charitable channels, these innovative bricks are now breaking barriers by becoming available for purchase by the wider public. This significant expansion comes after the undeniable impact the bricks have had on blind and partially sighted learners.

“For blind and partially sighted children, and adults for that matter, it makes all the difference if they can share their journey of learning braille with the people they love the most. For the blind community, braille is not just literacy, it’s our entry to independence and inclusion into this world, and to have LEGO Braille Bricks made available for 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,” says Martine Abel-Williamson, president of the World Blind Union.

With a combination of braille and printed letters, numbers, and symbols on each brick the new ‘Lego Braille Bricks – Play with Braille’ set makes learning braille an engaging and accessible experience for everyone. Inspired and co-developed by entrepreneur Matthew Shifrin, who is blind himself, this groundbreaking experience offers builders the option of accessing select LEGO building instructions as audio or text for braille readers.

Originally, Lego Braille Bricks were provided at no cost exclusively to organizations specializing in the education of children with visual impairments. Now, these unique bricks are available for purchase on LEGO.com. The latest addition, ‘Lego Braille Bricks – Play with Braille,’ caters to children aged 6 and above. This product has been meticulously designed to ensure that anyone, whether they are blind, partially sighted, or fully sighted, can explore the braille system at home with family members in an inclusive and playful manner.

Lego Braille Bricks – Play with Braille is priced at $89.99 USD and is currently available for pre-order in English and French versions. The official launch is set for September 1st, 2023. Early in 2024, the product will also be released in Italian, German, and Spanish versions, further expanding its global impact.

These innovative bricks are not just a new way to play; they’re a step toward a more inclusive world, where the joy of learning knows no bounds. Let’s embark on this journey together and make education a universally accessible adventure.

For more information, visit LEGO.com

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