Full disclosure: this is pretty old news. But I cannot emphasize enough how excited I was to hear it!

I wholeheartedly admit to living up to the stereotype that architects loved playing with Legos when they were youngins (though let’s face it, err’body loves Legos, mmkay?). And even now, when children in my family bring out that giant, red pail and dump out those interlocking pieces of heaven, my 27-year-old self sits her ass down and spends an inconceivable amount of time making anything and everything.

For the vast number of children whose hands would build with these blocks, it is really exciting to know that they can now see a mini-figure in a wheelchair chill with the hotdog stand vendors and the gardeners and the dads with strollers and the Batmans and the Harry Potters of the happy-go-lucky Lego neighborhood.

Lego’s own Duplo toys have already previously released a character in a wheelchair, but it was presented as an elderly man, being pushed by what looks like his nurse or doctor. And that was a frequent misrepresentation in the media of what a person with a disability is like, and frankly, children couldn’t really relate to such things. But with special thanks to parents, organizations such as Toys Like Me, and the voices of millions of children with disabilities, Lego will release a mini-figure this summer that will break down that stereotype and push it off a cliff (the stereotype, not the old man in a wheelchair…). This Lego person is just a kid, dressed like many other kids, who probably talks back to his parents and says “nae nae” and “lowkey” and other phrases that make me feel really old…like many other kids.

Even before the Duplo mini-figure, other names in the toy world has come out with a figure in a wheelchair. Companies like American Girl and Build-A-Bear have been offering wheelchair accessories for their toys for some time now. Smaller companies like Makies are also offering customized dolls with disabilities.

But guyz, this is Lego! This is the top toy-making company in the world! And they’re releasing a mini-figure in a wheelchair. LEGO!

And this is different from providing an accessory for a customized doll. Wheelchair Lego Dude is just simply Wheelchair Lego Dude. He’s not Lego Dude that you can buy a separate wheelchair for! They come in a package! Together! As if it’s a standard thing!

And this sends an important message to children both with and without disabilities. The Toys Like Me folks say it the best: this is an opportunity for Lego to teach children about diversity and to help them “grow up with a more positive attitude to human difference!” It’s not about sympathy, it’s not about being “normal.” It’s about embracing the fact that there are different types of people and that we should ensure that we are all visible. It’s about the message that you don’t need to buy a separate accessory in order to be represented; to be yourself.

How it relates to architecture: Designers of the built environment need to adopt that same attitude. The world is filled with all different types of people with all different types of abilities. Let’s stop designing spaces for just some, then just slap on accessible amenities because they are sometimes needed by special people. Accessibility isn’t an accessory, it’s a standard.

And for a little ear candy: