Modifying a toy for a child with a disability

Nightblood. · **Modifying a toy for a child with a disability -** April 2nd 2013, 04:22 PM

I need to do a project for class. I have to modify a toy for a child with a disability. I'm not really sure what I should do and the internet isn't helping me much. The example she gave us that we aren't allowed to use would be for a child with a disability that makes fine motor skills difficult would be to melt crayons down and put them in a mold to make the crayon bigger and easier to use and hold.

Ella.x · **Re: Modifying a toy for a child with a disability -** April 2nd 2013, 06:09 PM

You could go down the sensory route. Take a toy and add extra sensory effects - so for instance, you could use a different material for each different colour (http://www.sensorytoywarehouse.com/ has some good inspiration) These toys would be good for children with autism spectrum disorders. Another idea would be to modify something, say a toy car so that it is indestructible (made of strong rubber, no small parts), which would be good for a child with Pica. Hope these give you a bit of help. One way to help might be to pick a disability and look for problems with the toys that are available and then fix the problems.

marvelous123 · **Re: Modifying a toy for a child with a disability -** April 3rd 2013, 04:52 AM

I know one! They have them all around the walls at the blind school I used to attend for short-term programming. They were meant for kids who couldn't see where they were going to be able to feel where they were going.

You can take tactile things like felt, styrofoam, string, bumpy stickers, just different things, and make it into some sort of tactile block where the child can feel it and just play with the different objects.

Its not really a toy, but its something fun that kids play with. I used to just stand there for a few minutes between sessions and just play with the different beads and stuff (I was very young, ahah)

Philomath · **Re: Modifying a toy for a child with a disability -** April 4th 2013, 01:23 AM

I had some toys like this when I was younger (I am blind.)
You can take a Rubix cube and put different textured and colored stickers on all of the different colored cubes.
You also can find a lot of information about how to modify toys for any sort of disability online. Just figure out which disability you want to adapt the toy for and do a web search.
Hopefully this goes well and if you need any ideas, you can PM or VM me and I'll be glad to help.