UNO is a family favorite, with its colorful cards and fast pace making it fun for all ages. Now, even more players can try it out. On Tuesday, famous toy manufacturer Mattel debuted the first-ever official Braille deck of UNO cards, developed in partnership with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB).
The goal of UNO Braille was to make the game more accessible to blind and low-vision players. The cards are sold exclusively through Target. You can preorder the cards currently, to be shipped on or after October 6.
Braille is on the packaging, and on the corner of each card in the 112-card deck, to identify the card’s color and number action, according to a Mattel press release. It’s part of a growing trend to make toys and games more accessible; LEGO created special bricks to teach Braille this year. The LEGO studs spell out letters, numbers, and symbols to make language learning fun for children who are blind or low-vision.
Downloadable instructions are available on UNOBraille.com, which also features Braille readable files. Players can also use voice-enabled instructions through Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
UNO tweeted about the new deck with an inspiring video on October 1. It features blind and low-vision adults and children who speak about the game’s accessibility.
“It’s a sighted world, so it’s important to have accessibility for the blind,” Raveena Alli said in the clip.
In a press release from Mattel, Global Head of Games Ray Adler said, “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,”