Special LEGO bricks donated to children in Essex

Children living with vision impairment in Essex are set to benefit from special LEGO Braille Bricks toolkits thanks to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

The toolkits, featuring the bricks that can help the children learn braille, have been distributed to Essex County Council.

The kits are made up of around 300 LEGO bricks that are specially made so the studs on top reflect letters and numbers in the braille alphabet.

They also featured printed letters, numbers and symbols meaning everyone can use them in a more inclusive way.

The kits are being brought to the UK by RNIB, which worked with the LEGO Foundation to develop and test the Braille Bricks and will distribute toolkits to schools and home-schooled children in the East of England from September.

RNIB Director of Services, David Clarke said: “We are excited to bring the LEGO Braille Brick toolkits to UK classrooms to help children learn how to read and write braille in a fun and engaging way. Braille is an important tool and these inclusive toolkits will make a real difference to children with vision impairment, allowing them to play and interact with their sighted classmates.”

Senior Play & Health Specialist at the LEGO Foundation, Stine Storm, said: “We are thrilled to launch the first wave of the LEGO Braille Bricks program and get the toolkits into the hands of children. With LEGO Braille Bricks, students and educators can tailor their activities in countless different ways to meet their needs and learning goals in a fun and inclusive manner. The possibilities for learning through play are endless, and we look forward to seeing how LEGO Braille Bricks can inspire children of all ages along their journey to learn braille.”