In celebration of Autism Acceptance Month, the LEGO Foundation is launching a new accelerator grant, an equity-free funding and fixed-term mentorship program for social enterprises, ventures, and organizations that wish to support autistic kids and kids with ADHD through play-based learning.
“When neurodivergent [kids] are understood, valued, and empowered, everyone benefits from their important, and often, extraordinary contributions,” says Dr. Maureen Dunne, senior advisor and special educational needs and disability expert for the program. “Neurodivergent inventors, scientists, and artists have reshaped entire industries.”
The World Health Organization estimates that 1 billion people, or 15% of the global population, has some form of disability, with 1 in 160 kids being diagnosed with autism.
“We believe that more neurodivergent [kids] should experience the power of believing ‘I can,’” says Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, CEO of the LEGO Foundation. “By working with partners, we aim to raise awareness, understanding, and acceptance of neurodiversity, and challenge the stigma of diagnoses around the world.”
The Play for All accelerator grant is inspired by the success of the Brick-by-Brick program designed by the LEGO Foundation’s partner, Play Included, to empower kids to embrace how their brain is wired to communicate.
The first cohort of organizations is participating in this program this month, and the inaugural program runs until February 2023 and will see participants progress through a three-phased selection process, with funding, mentorship, and learning through play expertise provided at each stage.
