This year, LEGO plans to introduce Braille bricks for blind and visually impaired children. These bricks are designed to teach children Braille while also leveling the playing field so sighted and visually impaired children can play and learn on equal terms.
So what exactly makes these bricks so special? The Braille blocks will have studs that match up with the letters and numbers of the Braille alphabet. However, the bricks will still be compatible with classic LEGO bricks, making it easy for visually impaired and sighted children to play together without anyone feeling othered.
LEGO Bricks have historically been a fantastic way to encourage STEM learning through play, and now visually impaired children do not have to miss out on this wonderful opportunity. These LEGO bricks offer an inclusive opportunity for sighted and visually impaired children to play together without any clear inequalities.
By teaching children Braille while they play, these LEGO Bricks set them up for success. Learning Braille, especially at a young age, opens the door for visually impaired children to have more opportunities for freedom and independence in the future.
These bricks also come at an ideal time as Braille literacy is on the decline among Americans. According to a study by the National Federation of the Blind, less than 10% of the country’s blind population can read Braille. In the 1950s, nearly half of all blind children in the US were taught Braille as part of their school curriculum. These children have been neglected in the modern education system, but not anymore!
For more information on the highly-anticipated Braille bricks, check out Legobraillebricks.com.