When you hear the word “technology,” you may think of talking computers, robots, laser optics, and spy satellites...but probably not toys. To a child with disabilities, an adapted toy can be the beginning of a whole new world of learning for the child. Adapted toys allow many early learning skills to develop which will be needed to steer educational and future job-related goals. Switches and battery-powered toys can be stimulating and confidence building for the disabled child. They also encourage a number of skills such as cause-and-effect, hand-eye coordination, interactive play with peers, and choice making, just to name a few. Switches and battery-powered toys can also be applied throughout an educational curriculum to achieve cognitive, motor, communication, social and self-help, and vocational goals. These same switches can also be used to introduce technology into the classroom by operating a computer and learning to operate communication devices.Communication devices allow the child to participate in classroom and peer activities. Specially adapted computers and software applications designed to compensate for specific disabilities allow the child to participate in specific learning activities and interact with other children or adults.

LINC offers a number of switches, battery-powered toys and communication devices for families to borrow. Call in advance to plan a visit to the LINC loan library and try out the All Turn It Spinner, Ring Around Bells, The Popper, or the Spin Art, to name a few on hand.© (Fall 1999)

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• AbleNet - click on products
• Access Quality Toys
• Come Play With Me Toys
• Different Roads to Learning
• Downi Creations - dolls with Features of Down syndrome children
• Dragonfly Toy Company
• Enabling Devices
• Flaghouse
• Funtastic Learning
• Jim's Jungle Play & Design
• National Lekotek Center
• Pathways Development Group - adaptations which allow people with disabilities to play Nintendo, and more
• Rifton Equipment
• Step 'n Go
• Tack-Tiles - Braille blocks
  
  

Making Your Early Childhood Toys Accessible

Options which allow access to play materials for all children from the Missouri Technology Center for Special Education