Toys for the Holidays for Children with Disabilities

by John M. Williams

Each year during the holiday season I receive scores of e-mails, faxes and telephone calls from parents and relatives looking for toys for children with disabilities.

There are many considerations in buying toys for children with disabilities, some similar to those for any child, some unique to each disability. For example, for multisensory appeal, consumers should ask: Does the toy respond with lights, sounds, or movement? Are there contrasting colors? Does it have a scent? Is there texture?

Other questions are: Will the toy provide a challenge, but without frustration? What is the force required to activate it? What are the number and complexity of steps required to activate it? Can the toy be used in a variety of positions, such as side-lying or on a wheelchair tray? Will the toy be easy to store? Is there space in the home? What are the opportunities for the user to be successful in using the toy? Is it adaptable to the child’s individual style, ability and pace? Does the toy provide activities that reflect both developmental and chronological ages? Does it reflect the child’s interests and age? Will the child be an active participant during use? Will the toy encourage social engagement with others? Is the toy moist resistant? Can it be washed and cleaned?

Buyers want to see the excitement on their children’s or siblings’ faces when they open a toy that has been adapted to meet their needs. Fortunately for these gift givers, a wide selection of toys exist for ages 6 months to 12 years old.

For example, there are communication aids and toys specially designed for children (and adults) who are unable to communicate because of stroke, neurological disorder, brain dysfunction, hearing/voice/physical difficulties, or other language barriers. There are learning materials and playthings for children with developmental delays and challenges. There are educational toys and materials that stimulate speech and language for children ages 2 to 10.

There are toys for specific disabilities. For example, Downi Creations®, Inc. makes dolls that appear to have Down Syndrome, with which children with Down Syndrome can identify. The doll reflects their image, helping them, through play, to strengthen and develop their self-esteem (www.downicreations.com).

In 1997, Mattel introduced “Share a Smile Becky,” which used a wheelchair; she later became “Paralympic Becky” and was joined by a “Sign Language Barbie”. Drastic Plastic makes an FDR figure with his custom-made wheelchair and leg braces as part of their Leaders of World War II line. Other manufacturers have produced dolls and doll- sized wheelchairs and disability equipment such as guide dogs, crutches, and glasses.

There are adapted battery-operated toys, adapted art equipment, textured material toys for children who are blind, adapted playground equipment, and books. There are toys to enhance the development of fine and gross motor skills, adapted furniture and sensory stimulation products. There are toys that teach phonics.

For sports enthusiasts, Fun-Attic Sports and Toys, Inc. carries an exclusive line of Saturnian 1 Sport & Fun Products to keep the fun in sports and provide unique products promoting active play for people of all ages and all levels of ability.

Parents can look at the Poss-I-Bowl 2000, an electronic control system that enables persons who are physically challenged to participate in this exciting sport. Poss-I-Bowl 2000 attaches to any tubular bowling ramp system and enables the bowler with a gentle touch of the control switch to release the bowling ball.

For children who love talking toys there is a talking Shrek and a talking donkey (www.enablingdevices.com).

For children learning to walk there is a pre-walking and push toy that is stable. It allows the child to work on standing, balance, and play, with interesting toys. Parents can place a sandbag inside the toy to improve its stability.

For children who love to hug and cuddle with stuffed bears, there is Spinoza® Bear. Hidden deep in his fur is a cassette tape player and speaker to play a collection of nine audio cassettes or any standard audio cassette. The collection of tapes includes messages regarding breathing, healthy eating, hope, grief, feelings, creativity, anxiety, and more.

There are toys, games, and tools for children with skill-development needs. These products are organized by skill/need categories: cognitive/language; sensory development; perceptual/motor; fine motor and gross motor.

For budding writers there is the Slant, which encourages proper wrist position, allowing for improved form in handwriting. In addition, use of this slant board promotes better functional postural position and stability.

For children eager to ride bicycles there is the tricycle that also helps develop gross motor skills (www.comeplaytoys. com/kidszone.htm).

For blossoming engineers, Tack-Tiles® Braille Systems are a sophisticated teaching tool for all ages based on Lego®-type blocks. These Braille blocks provide a unique bridge—a smoother, shorter, more interesting path to Braille literacy. Now in English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian literary Braille Code as well as Nemeth Braille Code for mathematics, Braille code for music notation, and computer Braille code. True to their nature, Tack-Tiles have shown themselves to be valuable tactile aids in several settings where sensory stimulation, not vision, is the central issue to be addressed.

For budding pilots and scientists, Computer Automated Chopper offers Patrol Verti Bird, a toy helicopter that can be used with a joystick and adaptive switches (www. scienceshareware.com/bird.htm) .

Toys4SpecialKids (www.toys4specialkids. com) site provides a convenient shopping atmosphere to purchase educational and adaptive toys for special needs children. Items are selected and categorized based on recommendations from parents, educators, and manufactures.

Toy Manufacturers of America publishes a Guide to Toys for Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impairedwww.toy-tma.org.

For the traveler, AssistTech Inc. offers ICanGo Box (“a do-it-yourself alternative to permanently adapted ride-in vehicles . . . convert your off-the-shelf 6- or 12-volt vehicle to adaptive switch operation”) and ICanGo Software (which features ICanGo—the little red jeep—and its pals, in a full line of adventures that complement ICanGo low-tech mobility products).

Childswork/Childsplay offers books and games that encourage children to meet their developmental tasks, learn to deal with their feelings, and find ways to cope with their emotional, behavioral or learning disorders.

Dragonfly Toy Company (www.dragonflytoys.com) sells a variety of toys for children with special play needs—such as adapted battery operated toys, adapted art equipment, texture d material toys for children who are blind, adapted playground equipment, and books for children and parents.

Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway is a comprehensive, open-ended play system which can help develop physical, social and cognitive skills, as well as foster a sense of accomplishment (www.learningcurve. com/ourProducts/thomas.asp).

Constructive Playthings® sells early childhood educational toys, equipment, books, records, tapes, videos, art supplies, and teaching aids.

Crestwood Company offers communication aids and toys specially designed for children and adults who are unable to communicate because of stroke, neurological disorder, brain dysfunction, hearing/voice/physical difficulties, or a language barrier.

Different Roads to Learning specializes in learning materials and playthings for children with developmental delays and challenges. This catalog puts together educational toys and materials that stimulate the skills leading to speech and language for challenged children ages 2 to 10.

Enabling Devices/Toys for Special Needs is an innovative developer of assistive and adaptive technologies for the physically challenged-including specially adaptive toys (such as Tickle-Me Dolls).

Flag House’s “Special Needs” catalog features more than 5,000 products for daily activities, therapy, education and fun! Readers will discover tools to enhance fine and gro s s motor skills, adapted furniture, toys, games, plus sensory stimulation products.

Pleasant Company offers various books and dolls for girls. One of its products includes a doll-sized wheelchair.

Smart Start Toys focus on toys for children dyspraxia and visual impairments.

Lastly, Anna’s Toy Depot (www.annastoydepot.com) has dress-up toys, tactile and sensory toys, puzzles, play animals, dollhouse families, and tunnels.

Unfortunately, as I surveyed the market, I concluded that there are no toys for teenagers. This is a time in children’s lives that companies must address now. To ignore this age group is excluding millions of children with disabilities from participating with their peers. Inclusiveness rather than exclusiveness must be the goal of every toy manufacturer.

John Williams has been writing about assistive technology for 25 years. A sample of his book Assistive Technologies: Creating a Universe of Opportunities for People with Disabilities can be accessed at www.atn-ctcf.org.