The National Institute of Playstates that "We all know that play is fun, even joyful. It refreshes and energizes us. Play is a central element of life, throughout life, not only for children, but for working and retired adults. In play our burdens feel lighter and we are opened to new possibilities. But play goes even deeper - it shapes our brains to make us smarter and more able to adapt to situations."
And of course, no one could ever have enough books. Books on tape or CD are wonderful for the car. If you have a child that uses a switch, adapt the player so that the child can operate it by hitting the switch. And every switch user should have a PowerLink 3 from AbleNet, in the home!! Great personal control!
2009 EDITION OF TOYS “R” US TOY GUIDE FOR DIFFERENTLY-ABLED KIDS DEBUTS IN STORES NATIONWIDE AND ONLINE
Toys "R" Us has released the 2009 Toys "R" Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids, a complimentary toy-selection guide for parents and friends of children with disabilities. The Guide and the products featured inside are available in all Toys "R" Us stores nationwide and online. The Guide is available in all Toys “R” Us stores nationwide and online at .
The easy-to-use resource, released annually, features specially selected toys that promote the development of children with physical and cognitive disabilities. Items featured in the Guide promote the development of specific skills, such as auditory, language, visual, fine motor, thinking and social skills. Symbols are assigned to each toy so parents can easily identify items that are best suited for their child's needs.
In addition to toy recommendations, the Guide also includes the Lekotek's "Top Ten Tips for Buying Toys," a list of questions compiled by Lekotek's experts to guide people when selecting toys for children with disabilities. This year, the Guide also introduces a new, easy-to-use toy-finder index that lists toys in separate skill-building categories. This added feature allows users to quickly find and select toys that are appropriate for a child's specific needs and interests.
Switch Adapted Battery Operated Toys By Dave Grass
What’s a Switch? A "switch" is something that can be pressed to activate a toy or any device that is turned on or off by opening or closing a circuit.
What’s an adapted toy? A switch adapted, battery operated toy is a toy that has been modified so that a child with a disability can press a switch and activate the toy, instead of using a standard battery operated toy's on/off button.
Why adapt a toy? The importance of play is well documented. All children need opportunities to learn cause and effect, interact with the other children in a play setting, and develop fine motor and gross motor skills, all of which can carry over to a variety of educational activities. An adapted toy allows children with disabilities the same play opportunities available to other children.
Having the power to make things move at the touch of a button is a wonderful thing for anyone!
Assistive technology is any kind of technology and/or tool that can be used to enhance the functional independence of a person with a disability. Often, for people with disabilities, accomplishing daily tasks such as communicating with others, going to school or work, or participating in activities can be a challenge. Assistive Technology (AT) devices are tools to help overcome those challenges and enable people living with disabilities to enhance their quality of life and lead more independent lives.