Holiday Shopping for Kids with Disabilities
Gibbs' page lists the steps for making a toy operate with a switch. .Linda Burkhart's book, Homemade Battery-Powered toys and Educational Devices for Severely Handicapped Children , is another great resource.
I am not saying that you should never buy toys designed for children with disabilities. I would have enjoyed many of the products made by companies specializing in adaptive toys. Be careful, however, when selecting from companies that specialize in toys for students with disabilities. Like everything else, it pays to comparison shop!
Always keep in mind that toys do not have to be custom-made to be accessible. Illustrating this fact, most of the toys in Exceptional Parent's 1999 Annual Toy Review are available at toy superstores or discount department stores .
If a toy cannot be adapted so that a child can play independently, perhaps they can still play with the help of siblings and friends. Children with disabilities learn how to interact with others and how to ask for assistance, while the other children learn how to give assistance and cooperate with peers with disabilities. These are the very ingredients of successful inclusive environments.
For further surfing:
Tips for Buying Toys for Children with Disabilities
Toys for Children with Vision Impairments
ACCESS TO FUN! from Kentucky Department of Education
Let's Play Project at University at Buffalo Center for Assistive Technology
Please share your toy buying and adaptation stories in the discussion section below!
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