LEGO Introduces Braille Bricks for Home Learning and Inclusivity

LEGO Introduces Braille Bricks for Home Learning and Inclusivity

(IN BRIEF) In anticipation of World Blind Awareness Month in October, the LEGO Group has unveiled the LEGO® Braille Bricks – Play with Braille, available for purchase for the first time through LEGO.com. Aimed at children aged 6 and above, these bricks allow individuals, including those with blindness, partial sight, and sighted individuals, to explore and enjoy the braille system through interactive play at home. Previously distributed freely to specialized educational organizations, the new product stems from positive feedback on the transformative impact of LEGO Braille Bricks on learning for children with vision impairment. Priced at $89.99 USD, the set includes 287 braille-adorned bricks in various colors, with accompanying play starters and online activities to foster inclusive learning experiences. As part of LEGO’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity, the company has also partnered with the Be My Eyes app, connecting visually impaired users with LEGO Customer Service for live visual assistance. Additionally, LEGO® Audio & Braille Building Instructions, a feature designed for braille readers, will become a permanent offering. The set is available for pre-order in English and French, with Italian, German, and Spanish versions arriving in early 2024.

(PRESS RELEASE) BILLUND, 18-Jul-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — The LEGO Group, a Danish privately held toy production company founded in 1932, is making a resounding commitment to inclusivity by announcing the availability of LEGO® Braille Bricks through LEGO.com. This landmark offering, named LEGO® Braille Bricks – Play with Braille, is set to captivate children aged 6 and above, fostering a rich understanding of the braille system while promoting family engagement and joyful learning experiences.

Martine Abel-Williamson, President, World Blind Union, commented: “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.”

Previously, LEGO Braille Bricks were exclusively provided free of charge to educational institutions* that specialize in the instruction of children with visual impairments. Since their introduction in 2020, these educational kits have garnered exceptional feedback from parents, caregivers, educators, and the children themselves, highlighting their transformative impact on the braille learning journey. Inspired by this overwhelming response, LEGO Braille Bricks – Play with Braille has been conceived to extend the benefits of tactile learning to families, empowering them to cultivate tactile skills from the comfort of their homes.

This groundbreaking offering consists of 287 bricks in five vibrant colors: white, yellow, green, red, and blue. Fully compatible with the expansive LEGO universe, each brick’s studs correspond to specific letters and numbers in the braille system. To ensure seamless engagement, the braille symbols or letters are located below the studs, allowing for intuitive association. Accompanying the set are two baseplates for construction, all presented in packaging embellished with braille embossing.

Rasmus Løgstrup, LEGO Group Lead Designer on LEGO Braille Bricks said: “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!”

“It’s been a fantastic journey collaborating with children, families and experts from around the world to develop the product and online activity packs. Our partners have been instrumental also in advising on what colourways should be used for the bricks, product packaging and digital experiences to ensure this is optimised for individuals who experience low vision and vision loss. We know this is a strong platform for social inclusion, and can’t wait to see families get creative and have fun playing with braille together.”

The inclusive experience is further enriched by a series of supporting play starters available on LEGO.com. These interactive guides facilitate pre-braille skill development while introducing participants to the intricacies of brick orientation, attachment, and stacking. Classic games such as Rock, Paper, Scissors are reimagined to accommodate diverse players, ensuring that braille learners and sighted individuals alike can share the joy of play.

A heartwarming testament to the transformative impact of LEGO Braille Bricks is shared by Lisa Taylor, a parent to 7-year-old Olivia and 4-year-old Imogen. She explains, “Olivia first discovered LEGO braille bricks at school and they had such a big impact on her curiosity for braille. Before then, she found it hard to get started with the symbols but now she’s improving all the time. 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.”

In line with its dedication to inclusivity, the LEGO Group has partnered with the Be My Eyes mobile app. This partnership empowers visually impaired individuals by connecting them to LEGO Customer Service professionals via live video calls, catering to various inquiries, from unboxing guidance to general product support.

Mike Buckley, Chairman and CEO, Be My Eyes, commented: “The fact that the LEGO Group is investing in inclusion is huge because so many people in the blind and low vision community already love and enjoy LEGO products. 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 unveiling of LEGO® Braille Bricks – Play with Braille marks a significant stride in making the joy of learning and play accessible to all. Priced at $89.99 USD, the set is now available for pre-order in both English and French versions, with Italian, German, and Spanish versions set to follow in early 2024. As the LEGO Group remains committed to championing inclusivity, LEGO® Audio & Braille Building Instructions are now a permanent offering, ensuring that building instructions are accessible through audio or text for braille readers.

This innovation underscores the LEGO Group’s dedication to reshaping education and play, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn, create, and thrive. As we anticipate World Blind Awareness Month, the LEGO Group’s commitment to inclusivity shines brighter than ever.

Notes To Editors