LEGO Group, LEGO House and LEGO Foundation expand inclusion initiatives
The LEGO Group, LEGO House and the LEGO Foundation are today announcing a series of long-term activities to support neurodiverse children and adults to mark the start of World Autism Awareness Month. This is one of the latest steps to recognize and address the diverse needs and strengths of LEGO fans around the world.
Sharing a common mission
Colette Burke, Chief Commercial Officer of the LEGO Group, explains: "All LEGO companies share a common mission to inspire and empower children as the creators of the future. We want to give all children the opportunity to express themselves creatively with LEGO bricks. We know that neurodiverse fans of all ages appreciate our LEGO play system and we want to support, inspire and value their creativity. We hope that the planned changes to our stores, publications and family attractions will have a positive impact and help to cater to the diverse needs and strengths of our fans worldwide. These are just the first of many steps we are taking and we look forward to working with neurodiverse fans, educators and experts to implement initiatives that will help create a more inclusive world."
More inclusion at LEGO House and LEGO Stores with KultureCity
KultureCity is a non-profit organization committed to the integration of people with sensory needs. It supports and certifies places that offer (neurodivergent) visitors an inclusive experience. The LEGO House in Billund, Denmark, has already been certified "KultureCity® Sensory Inclusive™". The LEGO Stores in the USA and Canada will follow in April, once all employees have been trained to meet the individual sensory needs of visitors. Based on initial experiences and feedback from fans, the stores in the DACH region should also be ready by the end of the year. A clearly visible sign will then indicate the certification.
Hands on
Visitors to the LEGO Stores can borrow a service bag with sensory aids during their stay. This contains items such as noise-reducing headphones, a fidget spinner, visual cue cards, a KultureCity lanyard and light-dampening glasses1. The KultureCity app also offers videos to prepare for the visit to the store. LEGO House is the first experience center in the Nordic countries to receive KultureCity certification. It also participates in the "Sunflower Lanyard" program. This internationally recognized symbol helps people with invisible disabilities to discreetly signal that it can be a challenge for them to be seen in crowded places.