Lego Braille Bricks: Improving Blind Literacy Through Play

When I write about meaningful work, a topic that I believe to be at the center of all that it means to be human, it’s projects such as Lego Braille Bricks, from Danish toymaker The Lego Group that first come to mind.

The Foundation arm of The Lego Group, known as The Lego Foundation, recently announced that after a successful pilot program they are launching Lego Braille Bricks in twenty countries over the next six months. Lego Braille Bricks are currently available in six languages: English, French, German, Portuguese, Danish, and Norwegian, with a view for Braille Bricks to be available in 11 languages by early 2021.

Per The Lego Foundation:

Each brick in the Lego Braille Bricks toolkit retains its iconic form, but unlike a regular Lego brick, the studs are arranged to correspond to numbers and letters in the Braille alphabet. Each brick shows the printed version of the symbol or letter, allowing sighted and blind children to play and learn together on equal terms.

Unlike typical Lego sets, Lego Braille Bricks cannot be purchased by the general public. Lego Braille Bricks toolkits, which consist of a minimum of 300 bricks in five classic Lego colors, three base plates, and one brick separator, will be distributed free of charge to select institutions, schools, and services catering to the education of blind and visually impaired children, according to The Lego Foundation.

Why Braille Bricks?

Braille is an essential skill for children who are blind or have a visual impairment. Per The Lego Foundation:

With thousands of audio books and computer programs on the market today, fewer young people are learning Braille. Yet, individuals with blindness or impaired vision all over the world rely on Braille to work, study and enjoy their daily lives to the fullest.

Alongside the Lego Braille Bricks toolkit, The Lego Foundation has created a wealth of activities to make it easy for teachers and other educational figures to get started with their Braille Bricks.

Here’s a short video about the project from The Lego Foundation:

In my view, the most satisfying jobs are those that speak to your core values as a human being. If you believe that your school or other institution is eligible to receive a Lego Braille Bricks toolkit, contact The Lego Foundation’s official Braille Bricks partner in your country.

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