We realized that classic 6-pin (3x2) building bricks have the same pattern as the braille alphabet. Then we simply made small modifications to the pins, and voilà: We’ve built an entire braille alphabet. All this without losing the characteristics of the toy. The building bricks are still building bricks. . But now, with the peculiarity of being a letter, they make learning playful, simple, and fun. This is how Braille Bricks came about. A toy for literacy and inclusion of blind children, since it allows them to play normally with other children, learning and teaching braille.

We tested it with the children at the Dorina Nowill Foundation, and now that the tool has proven effective and potential, we want to convince a toy manufacturer to embrace the idea and produce Braille Bricks on a large scale, so that it can help children around the world. We are counting on the

The interaction with the user is instantaneous. Everyone is familiar with

building bricks, which are very popular among children around the world. The difference is that it is also used for literacy, for learning. One important detail is that by using this toy, we cast a blind child in the starring role of the play session. Being able to play with other children and teach. The toy is still a toy: It has not lost its classic characteristics, such as way of fitting with other pieces and its colors. For now, Braille Bricks is still in the experimental stage, used only by students in São Paulo. Currently, this method is used by 300 children at the Dorina Nowill Foundation and dozens of other foundations supported by the institution.

We used 6-pin (3x2) building bricks found at any toy store. Then, since the braille alphabet follows the same pattern of pins, we removed some of the pieces to obtain the letters. The bricks were crafted one by one in order to maintain the characteristics of the toy: Fit, colors, and functionality. You look at one of them and still see the classic, unmistakable design of the building bricks. What we did was to add a new element: the alphabet. The bricks, besides stimulating the imagination and inclusion, assist in tactile and motor development, which are extremely important for a blind child.

Usamos blocos de montar de 6 pinos (3x2) encontrados em qualquer loja de brinquedo. Então, como o alfabeto braille segue o mesmo padrão de pinos, retiramos alguns das peças e assim chegamos às letras.

Our goal was to raise awareness around the Braille Bricks project, reaching as many people as possible. As a result, in just 3 days we achieved 18.8MM organic impacts on Twitter and Facebook.

In Brazil, there are not many options for special materials for education of blind children. The majority needs to be adapted by parents and teachers. In addition, these materials do not encourage the inclusion of these students. Schools are not prepared to tend to blind and non-blind students at the same time, which ends up creating a difference in teaching method during the activities in the classroom.

From the Piaget treatises on cognitive learning to the modern 'Playful Learning Center' of the University of Helsinki, there is now scientific and academic consensus on the importance of games and playfulness for learning and child development.

The Dorina Nowill Foundation for the Blind, whose work is aimed at inclusion, sought an innovative resource that would help toward this goal and improve life for the visually impaired and those around them, in a real way.