Internet Resources On Toys For Children With Disabilities

By Jane Vincent (jane@wid.org)
 

"Knowledge arises neither from objects nor the child, but from interactions between the child and those objects."  - Jean Piaget

Regardless of their circumstances, all disabled children can benefit immediately from toys for their therapeutic, educational, and entertainment values. These toys may be created specifically for the child, adapted from pre-existing toys, borrowed from a toy library, or purchased with accommodations already built in. Toys need not be expensive or extravagant to fulfill their purpose: David Werner, in Nothing About Us Without Us, describes a game where a child's goal was to keep a mango leaf balanced on a stick and thereby learn to walk properly in his new braces. On the other side of the spectrum, high-tech toys may prepare a child to learn to take advantage of technological options in her environment.

The following Web pages are broken into three categories: articles about building or adapting toys, information about public or charitable resources, and information about commercial sites. All sites are in English unless otherwise noted. We welcome submission of information about other relevant sites to be included in future articles; please Email the addresses of these sites to jane@wid.org.
 

Building or Adapting Toys

"Adapted Toy Information", http://www.center4creativeplay.org/adapted.htm
This site contains a variety of tips for adapting or creating toys for children with disabilities, or for making the play environment more accommodating.

"Buying Toys for Children with Disabilities Can Be Challenging," http://blueprint.bluecrossmn.com/article/iac/100148085
This page is a reprint of an article from the National Lekotek Center. Although the article is focused on selecting existing toys, the principles it outlines could easily be applied to creating toys.

"Choosing Toys for Special Needs Children", http://www.toytips.com/toytypes/special.htm
Written by an occupational therapist, this article outlines categories of toys that children with disabilities may find most interesting, as well as listing some specific toys.

Exceptional Parent 1999 Toy Issue, http://eparent.com/toys/default.htm
A wealth of information on creating, adapting, and selecting toys, along with references to specific commercially-available toys judged to be particularly appropriate for individuals with various disabilities.

"Halloween Costumes", http://backandneck.about.com/health/backandneck/library/weekly/aa1016b.htm?once=true&
This is an article full of creative ideas for incorporating wheelchairs, respirators, crutches, or canes into fun costumes for Halloween or other dress-up times.

"How to Select Battery Operated Toys and Switches",  http://www.dreamms.org/may96.htm
 This article, reprinted from the NICHCY News Digest, provides an overview of factors to be considered when switch-operated battery toys are being used to help a child make the transition from play to use of computer and communication technology.

PLAY Pen, http://www.dftoys.com/1-800-308-2208/playpen.html?Client=11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111110000036845111111111111111111110& Filepath=playpen/playpen.html& -Response=navigation/navigation.html& -Nothing
Sponsored by Dragonfly, a Canadian commercial vendor of adapted toys, PLAY Pen contains a variety of articles on disability and children, including information on recreational and educational play. Particularly useful are a series of tips that appear on the left side of the page and that change each time the page is reloaded or a new page is brought up within the site.

"Toy Guide for Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired," http://productopia.com/offSite?returnID=1-250-omain& Type=embedded& src=editorial& ed=1& Link=http://www.ktv-i.com/news/archive.cfm%3Fid=2264
Includes guidelines for selecting (or developing) toys for children with visual disabilities.

Toys for Kids with Special Needs, http://www.toydirectory.com/specialneeds.htm
This is an on-line newsletter with short articles on providing toy-related accommodations.

"Toys for Tots with Disabilities", http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/dec1999/nf91215a.htm
Article from BusinessWeek which provides general and specific recommendations for choosing toys for disabled children, as well as links to some additional resources.

"Trucos e Ideas (Tricks and Ideas)", http://perso.wanadoo.es/ccristia/index2.htm (In Spanish)
Translation of an American site listing various ideas for accommodating children with disabilities, including "Juegos y diversiones" (games and diversions)
 

Public or Charitable Resources

Community Toy Library and Special Needs Resource Centre (Australia), http://www.maryborough.qld.gov.au/toylib1.htm
"The Maryborough City Council Community Toy Library provides an extensive range of toys and equipment for loan to all children, including children with special needs, professionals and groups." The site provides basic information about the library, including hours and services.

HAPA - Promoting Play for Disabled Children (England), http://www.hants.gov.uk/istcclr/cch33063.html
"HAPA was set up to provide play opportunities for disabled children. All HAPA playgrounds are staffed and designed for children with special needs..." The site lists basic descriptive and contact information.

Japanese National Council of Toy Libraries, http://www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/ntl/jsrd/z00004/z0000403.htm#97
"The National Association of Toy Libraries (part of National Volunteer Center) is working to form a national network of toy libraries and to provide places to learn from each other and exchange ideas." The site provides basic information about this Japanese initiative.

Kiddies Rehab International, http://www.kiddiesrehab.org/
"Kiddies Rehab International Foundation [gives] disabled children a chance to develop." This site, based in Holland, details the projects, services, and publications of the Foundation, including one publication on "Making toys with local material." (Ordering information is not yet provided.)

"Let's Play Project" (Buffalo, NY), http://cosmos.ot.buffalo.edu/letsplay/m-content.html
"The Let's Play! Project looks to provide families with ways to play through the use of assistive technology." This site contains articles, success stories, and resources on the use of both high and low technology tools for facilitating play.

National Association of Toy & Leisure Libraries (England), http://www.charitynet.org/~NATLL/
The site describes the British network of toy lending libraries for children with and without disabilities and leisure libraries, which provide "recreational facilities for adults with learning difficulties and their families." The network also offers several publications for a modest cost. Links are included to other national library associations in Canada, France, India, Australia, and Switzerland; only the Swiss site appears to have particular awareness of the needs of children with disabilities.

National Lekotek Center (United States), http://www.lekotek.org/
"The mission of the National Lekotek Center is driven by the philosophy that children learn best when play is a family-centered activity that includes all children, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, in family and community activities." Lekotek centers provide play opportunities, training for professionals, and information dissemination at several sites around the United States, including one in Puerto Rico.

SETI Center, Egypt, http://www.redbay.com/newbies/med/library.htm
This center for individuals with cognitive disabilities publishes an "Index of Low Cost Toys" in Arabic, available for a modest cost.

Special Toys Educational Postal Service, http://www.btinternet.com/~steps.org/
"S.T.E.P.S. is a small UK charity that provides a free service to severely disabled children by providing a battery operated, adapted toy and a specialized switch that enables the child to operate the toys by themselves." The one-page site provides basic information about the organization.

State Library of Queensland (Australia) Resources for the Disabled, http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/publib/commun/disab.htm
This site mentions toy resources available for use in libraries, as well as contact information for Noah's Ark Resource Centre, which "operates a toy and equipment lending service for children with disabilities and special needs."

Telephone Pioneers of America (T.P.A.), http://www.telephone-pioneers.org/
Among other services, T.P.A. produces and internationally distributes hand-operated tricycles and "beeping" softball equipment.

Toy Adaptation Network, http://www.nraf-rehabnet.org/ and click on link for "Toy Adaptation Network"
"Through a national [United States] toy adaptation network, rehabilitation-related facilities are coming together to help children experience the thrill of play."  The site lists the network members and provides an application form for additional facilities to join.

"Toy Library Brings Joy to Disabled Kids", http://www.sg/flavour/061999/bb-community03.html
Short article on an initiative in Singapore to bring adapted toys to disabled children in their classrooms.

"Toy Story", http://ability.ns.ca/v6n1/v6n1p16.html
"Toys are part of everyone's life as a child, but for those with disabilities, there are few choices. The Canadian Rehabilitation Council for the Disabled (CRCD), New Brunswick Branch Inc. has a solution: the Toy Library." This article from Ability Network briefly describes the structure and services of the CRCD Toy Library.

UCP of Greater Suffolk (New York) Toy Lending Library, http://www.ucp-suffolk.org/services/toylending/
"The Children's Center at UCP is pleased to offer adapted toys and switches to the community." The site includes an interesting list of the available toys.
 

Commercial Sites

Accessible Playground Equipment,  http://www.playgrounddirectory.com/accessible.htm
This page from "The World Playground, Parks & Recreation Products and Services Web Directory" site lists a variety of vendors from the United States or Canada that sell accessible playground equipment.

Active Play, Inc., http://www.specialkidstoys.com/
A vendor of accessible toys based in the Philippines.

"Doll with Down Syndrome", http://uni-bremen.de/~downsyn/down23e.html
This is the site of a German vendor of dolls that have the characteristic look of children with Down Syndrome representing several ethnic groups. "The idea behind the creation of this toy is to enable children with Down Syndrome to identify with a doll which reflects their image, thus helping them through play to strengthen and develop their self-esteem."

Family Village Accessible Shopping Mall, http://laran.waisman.wisc.edu/fv/www/at/adaptive%2Dtoys.html
A listing of informational resources and vendors of adapted or adaptable toys, mostly in the United States.

Guide to Toys for Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired, http://www.toy-tma.com/industry/publications/blindcurrent/contents.htm
This page lists the table of contents for a catalog of toys that are particularly appropriate for children with visual disabilities. Sample listings for each category are posted on the site. The catalog was developed jointly by the American Toy Institute and the American Foundation for the Blind.

KidAbility, http://www.kidability.com/
"Our mission is to provide all children, with priority attention to disabled and special kids, readily accessible and affordable resources and tools to help them attain their maximum level of personal achievement, and to enjoy the highest quality of life experience possible." This site is expected to be fully active by July 1, 2000.

Spielzeugwerkstatt (Toy Workshop), Books 1 and 3 (by Ekkehard Bartsch) Available from Amazon.de, http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/Author=Bartsch%2C%20Ekkehard/028-9779188-0581345
This is a German book about making toys for disabled and non-disabled children.

Toy Catalogue Listing for Children with Special Needs, http://www.nas.com/downsyn/toy.html
"To assist with [accommodations] we have compiled a list of toy resources and toy catalogs that either contain adapted toys or toys whose designs transfer easily to the play needs of a child with special needs." The site lists a broad range of vendors accompanied in most cases by comments on the scope of each vendor's products. All listed vendors are United States-based except for one based in Canada.