The “Inclusiano”: Student-Built Keyboard Designed for Disabilities

In the News: Lego League Wins First Place for an Inspiring, Inclusive Innovation

ÉQUIPE FRANCOBOTIQUE, a French-speaking First Lego League team from Aurora, Ontario, Canada, has used universal design to create the “Inclusiano” (inclusive + piano combined), a new low-cost, durable, portable, and inclusive piano! This group of seven students in grades 4 to 6 and their coach Renée Northrup entered into the League’s challenge to build a robot and games around the theme of the arts. When discussing their artistic passions, they realized that everyone had learned an instrument, and most had learned the piano. They surveyed their schools and discovered that 83% of student participants wanted to learn music in school. The team recently won 1st Place Overall Champion and will represent Canada in the international competition!

Madeline (Grade 6) shared how her team’s work has changed her:

“I have come to realize how lucky I am to have piano lessons and how playing music will be something I treasure for my entire life. Our project and music in general inspires me to keep playing the piano.” 

Alex (Grade 5) explained that…

“We would like to help other students learn to play a musical instrument. Music is so important but there isn’t very much music or instruments in our schools.”

They believe all children should be able to learn to play an instrument. This team did their research; they spoke to teachers and administrators in schools for the blind and deaf, and experts in design for those with disabilities. They created this inclusive piano that, when connected to a computer screen, produces a vivid visual arts show for deaf users. To accommodate users with vision loss, the team added Braille music symbols to the 88 standard-size, laser-cut wood keys, and an extendable music stand to support large-print music.