Mattel announced the debut of UNO® Braille, the first UNO card deck that would be accessible for players with visual impairments, on October 1. UNO Braille decks are designed in partnership with the National Federation of the Blind. They feature Braille in the corner of each card that indicates the card’s color and number or action. Mattel created these decks with the aim of making one of America’s most beloved card games accessible for the more than 7 million blind and visually impaired people in the country.
“With the launch of UNO Braille, we’re making a real impact on a community that has been underserved by providing a game that both blind and sighted people can play together,” said Ray Adler, Global Head of Games at Mattel. “We are proud to have UNO Braille on-shelves and to be making UNO more accessible and inclusive to even more families.”
When you pick up a pack of UNO Braille cards, you’ll feel Braille on each side of the box for easy identification, and you’ll be directed to the UNO Braille website for instructions on how to play–with .BRF, Braille readable files, for download. You can access voice-enabled instructions through Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
“UNO Braille is doing more than making this beloved game more accessible. It’s also helping promote the importance and normalcy of braille by putting it in places people might not expect, and integrating it into the play of blind children,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “The fact that a blind person is now able to play a classic game of UNO straight out of the box with both blind and sighted friends or family members is a truly meaningful moment for our community.”
UNO Braille is not the game’s first foray into accessible products. In 2017, Mattel introduced UNO® ColorADD, the first accessible card game for people with color blindness. To find out more about UNO Braille and where to pick up a pack for your kids, visit the UNO Braille website or Target’s website.
Main Image: Courtesy Mattel
