Matthew Shifrin, CEO, Bricks for the Blind: "The Power of Language" 6/30

Bricks for the Blind (BFTB) is a nonprofit dedicated to making LEGO® building accessible to people with visual impairments. Wharton Club members and guests are invited!

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• Matthew Shifrin is a leading voice in revolutionizing the world of entertainment for blind children and adults.

• As  founder and CEO of Bricks for the Blind, a nonprofit creating text-based instructions that enable blind people to build LEGO sets independently, he's committed to making the world of LEGO accessible to disabled children.

• Matthew’s innovation and advocacy began at age 13 when a family friends gift of text-based LEGO instructions sparked his desire to share the joy of building LEGO sets with other blind kids.

• So he founded  Bricks  for the Blind, and established a partnership with LEGO resulting in their  Accessible Building Instructions Initiative.  

• Matthew’s nonprofit has created accessible instructions for over 520 LEGO sets, and instructions have been built by builders from more than 120 countries.

• He teaches LEGO-building workshops for blind people across the country, and runs robotics programs for blind children.  

• An accomplished musician with degrees from the New England Conservatory,  Matthew earned top honors  showcasing  his talents as an accordionist,  composer, and countertenor.

• He’s written multiple musicals, and his most recent one, My Grandma’s Mind Is Like An Ocean, a one-man musical in English and Yiddish won the award for Best Musical at NYC’s United Solo Theatre Festival on Theatre Row. 

• He wrote and hosted the award-winning podcast "Blind Guy Travels”, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival,  and was the first podcast on a major podcasting network, (Radiotopia) to feature a blind host.  

• He also  convinced a braille-making company to create Yiddish Braille.  

• Matthew hopes that his advocacy will inspire people to use their creativity to make the world a more accessible place.   

Wharton Club of DC Members - you can attend in-person with a free lunch or by Zoom

• President's Club/Lifetime: You and 2 guests may attend
• Other Members: Yourself only