How This LEGO Superfan Changed the Game for Blind Builders
Breaking Barriers: A Blind Lego Superfan’s Journey to Inclusivity
Creating a world where everyone can enjoy the thrill of building with LEGO, regardless of their visual acuity, is the mission of Matthew Shifrin, a blind LEGO enthusiast. His journey began when he was 13 years old, seated at his kitchen table in Newton, Massachusetts. His fingers traced the braille inscriptions in a thick three-ring binder, detailing the step-by-step instructions for constructing a complex LEGO model, a sprawling Middle Eastern palace. The binder, a thoughtful gift from a family friend cognizant of Shifrin’s visual impairment and his love for LEGO, marked a pivotal turning point in Shifrin’s life.
For the first time, Shifrin was able to build a LEGO set entirely on his own, without the need for a sighted companion to describe the visuals in LEGO’s image-only instructions. This newfound independence ignited a spark within Shifrin, fueling his passion for LEGO and driving him to make the LEGO building experience more inclusive for visually impaired individuals worldwide.
Bricks for the Blind: Rewriting LEGO’s Rules
Driven by his transformative experience, Shifrin founded the nonprofit organization, Bricks for the Blind, three years ago. His aim was to create accessible, text-based instructions for LEGO sets that could be interpreted by braille displays and screen readers, breaking down the barriers standing between visually impaired individuals and their love for LEGO. With a dedicated team of about 30 sighted writers and blind testers, Bricks for the Blind has, so far, produced accessible instructions for over 540 LEGO sets, serving about 3,000 builders in the U.S. and internationally.
The organization’s guides describe the shapes, stud counts, and spatial orientations in detail, enabling visually impaired builders to visualize the model as clearly as those using LEGO’s visual diagrams. These instructions are freely available on the Bricks for the Blind website, making LEGO building a more accessible and inclusive activity.
Advocacy for Inclusivity: Influencing Change at LEGO
Shifrin’s efforts didn’t stop at creating accessible instructions. In 2017, he took his advocacy straight to the LEGO Group in Denmark, arguing that the joy of building should be accessible to all, regardless of visual ability. His relentless advocacy influenced LEGO’s decision to develop official audio and braille building instructions, which were introduced in a pilot program in 2019 and have since been expanded to cover more sets.
LEGO also introduced Braille Bricks in 2019, featuring studs that correspond to letters, numbers, and symbols, making the bricks accessible in several languages. The company has also started including minifigures with visual impairments, weaving disability representation into its fictional worlds.
Shifrin’s work and advocacy have not only transformed his own LEGO building experience but have also created a more inclusive and accessible world for visually impaired LEGO enthusiasts worldwide. His story serves as a reminder that even the smallest of bricks can build a bridge to inclusivity, one step at a time.
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