Gallaudet University’s Motion Light Lab Receives $1 Million from LEGO Foundation

Gallaudet University announced today that its Motion Light Lab (ML2) has been awarded a $1 million capacity-building grant by the LEGO Foundation to create systemic change in how deaf children and their families access sign language and visual communication. ML2 was named one of 10 finalists in the LEGO Foundation’s “Build a World of Play Challenge,” a DKK 900 million (approximately USD 117 million) challenge to help solve the biggest global challenges facing children from birth to age six.

The one-year LEGO Foundation grant will allow ML2, with its partner SKI-HI Institute, to scale resources and deliver an awareness campaign to help families develop healthy communication and play with their deaf and hard of hearing children. The grant project, “PLAYFVL: Play and Language Access for Your Family through Visual Learning,” includes several key initiatives to be strategically implemented to create lasting systemic change: a global awareness campaign; the formation of a global alliance with multiple organizations; the implementation of an early visual communication curriculum; deaf mentorship; resource development; and training globally.

ML2 and SKI-HI plan to work with multiple countries in geographically diverse locations to implement their programs, establish strong partnerships with local stakeholders and build infrastructure for long-term sustainability to reach an estimated 15,000 families. ML2 and SKI-HI will be working with additional partners to create and implement PLAYFVL for increased impact.