Switch-Adapted Toys
Making toys accessible to people who use switches.
MaterialsA button-operated toy, switch, wire covers, zip tie
ToolsPliers, soldering
TimelineOne hour at Perkins School for the Blind
The Product
Switch-adapted toys mean engaging fun for children and players of all ages! Switch-adapted toys give a sense of independence to the user and also help teach cause-effect relationships.
Switch-adapted toys are intended for children (or any person) who wants to play with toys that require a button or trigger functionality, but cannot interface with the original design of the toy. For example, a user who with low fine motor skills or low muscle tone that cannot reach out to hold a trigger or squeeze a button can benefit from switch-adapted toys.
Switch-adapting this sunflower was my second time switch-adapting toys, so I was already a bit familiar with the process. I love soldering, so I’m glad we got to try that again for our sunflower!
Initially we had trouble opening up the toy; it turns out that many toys are zip-tied together at the base. A Perkins engineer, Tim, guided us through the switch-adapting process.
The Process
I love switch-adapting toys, and I love the impact that switch-adapted toys have on children who just want to play! I would love to get involved in adapting more toys to work with switches in my free time.