You Can Build This” — Bricks for the Blind Expands Accessible LEGO Instructions

Bricks for the Blind is accelerating its mission to make LEGO building fully accessible to blind and partially sighted people, with over 560 free step-by-step instructions now available and a goal of reaching 200 additional sets by the end of the year. The volunteer-driven project continues to transform traditional visual instructions into formats readable via screen readers or Braille displays, enabling builders of all ages to experience LEGO independently.

Founder and CEO Matthew Shifrin spoke to Double Tap about how the initiative began after he received a binder of Braille LEGO instructions at age 13. “Building a set was a rare opportunity to be fully immersed,” he said. “It gave me access to a universal part of childhood that had always been out of reach.”

The non-profit project employs around 30 writers and blind testers to produce instructions that describe every piece and its placement in precise, accessible language. Writers provide colour references for users with residual vision, while testers verify clarity and usability. Though Bricks for the Blind is not sponsored by LEGO, Shifrin confirmed that the group coordinates with the company to avoid duplicating its own official Braille and audio instructions.

The team is also exploring how emerging technologies can enhance the building experience. Smart glasses with AI-powered object and colour recognition already help streamline identifying pieces, while Shifrin notes that human-written instructions remain essential for providing “a friendly guide” and the joy of discovery that AI-generated content cannot replicate.

Accessible LEGO building, he said, offers more than entertainment: it improves spatial awareness, teaches scale and structure, and allows blind builders — particularly children and parents — to share a hobby equally with sighted friends and family. “Our slogan is ‘you can build this’, because you really can,” Shifrin added.

Resources:

– Bricks for the Blind Official Site
https://bricksfortheblind.org

– LEGO Audio & Braille Instructions
https://legoaudioinstructions.com