New: Toys for kids with special needs
As parents for special needs children, imagine entering a store, picking a toy and personally adapting it to your child's needs together with a professional, at no extra cost. M.I.L.B.A.T. association, Toys 'R' Us chain are making this possible
For the first time in Israel, the M.I.L.B.A.T. Center for Technology and Accessibility, which helps develop accessories for disabled children and adults, together with the Toys 'R' Us toy store chain, is launching a catalogue of products which will make games more accessible for children with special needs.
The booklet includes about 100 different products suitable for the use of children with special needs. All products presented in the catalogue have been tested by M.I.L.B.A.T. professionals.
The information about each product included in the booklet enables the professionals to adjust them to children with special needs, allowing them to enjoy themselves, learn and create like all other kids.
"As every child is a world unto himself or herself, we always match the solution to the specific disability of each child," a M.I.L.B.A.T. official explains.
"Through the catalogue, parents can pick toys which develop eyesight, hearing, thinking, feeling, social skills, self-esteem, language, frisky or gentle motors, and creativity. The association's volunteers can be found in the toy chain's various stores and will personally tailor the designated toy to each child."
Replacing small switch with large, accessible switch
The parents will pay for the purchased toy, and M.I.L.B.A.T. volunteers will identify the child's needs and personally tailor the toy to fit those needs. This will be done at no extra cost for the development and time. The raw materials (for large switches, etc) may require a small payment.
M.I.L.B.A.T., together with the a of occupational therapists and the association's speech therapist, present several examples in the catalogue.
For instance, in order to allow a child with a motor or cognitive disability to enjoy a car race with maximal independence, the volunteers will change the small operating button located on the lower part of the car, which does not suit children with fine motor difficulties.
Instead, they will attach two large switches which control each of the cars. Pressing the switch would allow the child to control the car's drive on the track – with the first squeeze the car will drive, and with another squeeze it will stop.
Toy tailored to fit child's needs
"Different types of switches can be custom made to be operated by gently moving a finger, friskily moving a leg, exhaling, etc – in accordance with each child's motor ability," an M.I.L.B.A.T. official explains. "Such switches can be adjusted to different kinds of toys."
Other creative solutions include a device for holding cards, which helps children who find it difficult to hold playing cards in their hands due to a weakness in the hands, fine motor difficulties, trembles or coordination problems; matching games for children with impaired vision by adding stickers with the digits in Braille – on the puzzle parts and on the frame; or making an organ accessible to children with fine motor difficulties or attentiveness and concentration problems, by changing the octaves with large keys with different colors and numbers, which will be operated together with card indexes containing notes of famous children songs.
The stand is also accessible for children sitting in wheelchairs through an electronic mechanism connected to the stand, whose height can be adjusted with a light press.
The booklet will be handed out for free at all Toys 'R' Us stores and at the associations and organizations aiding special needs children and their family members. In addition, M.I.L.B.A.T. will hold a series of meetings at the chain's stores with parents of special needs children.
"As part of the chain's commitment to give each child the opportunity to enrich his or her world and experiences, we felt the duty to prepare and distribute a catalogue of products presenting the variety of toys and games suitable for children with special needs," explains Toys 'R' Us CEO Eyal Carmi.
"The toys were carefully chosen by M.I.L.B.A.T. experts, who analyze the educational, didactic and developmental value of each toy and game."
"The public's awareness of the needs of disabled people is low," explains M.I.L.B.A.T. CEO Nachman Plotenzey. "This is the first project of its kind in Israel and I hope it helps change attitudes in the Israeli society.
"The M.I.L.B.A.T. team, which engages all days of the year in the development and adjustment of products and technologies and in making them accessible to people with special needs, has accepted the challenge of Toys 'R' Us, which will allow children with disabilities, like all other children, to enter the different stores and pick a toy," he adds.
"The technical adjustment in most cases is not very complex," he concludes. "What we usually lack is awareness and attention."
From the catalogue
The booklet will first be presented at the annual Maala Conference, " Assuming Responsibly," which will be held at the Tel Aviv Hilton Hotel on October 28 and will be attended by senior Israeli officials, managers, directors, decisions makers in the public sector and heads of social and environmental organizations.
M.I.L.B.A.T. is looking for volunteers with technical background and creative thinking. For more details, click here .
