LEGO Stores Revolutionize Support for Autism Community: A New Era of Accessibility and Inclusion
As April unfolds, marking Autism Awareness Month, LEGO embarks on a groundbreaking partnership with KultureCity, aimed at fostering inclusivity within its stores for all LEGO enthusiasts.
In a compelling announcement video by the LEGO Group, Uma Srivastava, the executive director of KultureCity, elaborated on the nonprofit’s collaboration with LEGO House in Denmark and stores across North America.
KultureCity, renowned for its focus on sensory inclusion and accessibility, introduces a paradigm shift in LEGO stores through comprehensive staff training. This initiative ensures that each store provides “sensory bags” meticulously crafted by a team of research professionals and neurodivergent developers.
These sensory bags comprise essential tools such as noise-reducing headphones, visual cue cards facilitating communication, diverse fidget tools, strobe-reduction glasses to mitigate bright lights, and a VIP lanyard. Srivastava emphasizes the significance of these lanyards in aiding staff to identify customers with sensory needs effectively.
Duanys, a LEGO store manager in Flatiron, New York City, underscores the transformative impact of the training, recounting how it has reshaped shopping experiences for customers, making the store more inviting and accommodating.
Liam, a pre-teen LEGO enthusiast, echoes the sentiment of boundless possibilities offered by the enhanced shopping experience, while lifelong LEGO customer Sean reflects on the profound impact such accessibility measures would have had on his childhood.
Beyond mere rhetoric, LEGO demonstrates its commitment by allocating substantial funds through the LEGO Foundation’s Play for All Accelerator program. This initiative disbursed over $11 million in grants to organizations focusing on innovative toys, products, and services for neurodivergent children worldwide.
Gina Gómez de la Cuesta, founder of Play Included, acknowledges the monumental impact of LEGO’s funding, emphasizing how tailored play experiences can foster crucial skills and promote inclusivity within educational settings.
LEGO’s dedication to accessibility extends further with the mass production of LEGO Braille bricks sets, catering to individuals who are blind or have low vision. Rasmus Løgstrup, LEGO group lead designer on LEGO Braille bricks, expresses excitement about the social inclusion facilitated by this initiative.
Blind content creator Anthony S. Ferraro exemplifies the profound impact of LEGO’s efforts, highlighting the joy of utilizing LEGO bricks for innovative purposes, including Braille education, thus enriching lives and fostering a more inclusive world.
Maeva B.