Make Play Accessible: A Toy Adapting Workshop

The event:

Join us this holiday season in supporting the magic of play for children with primarily motor disabilities. During this workshop, we will be modifying commercial toys to make them switch accessible. The primary goal is to provide an avenue for these children to engage in play and recreation independently. Switches are external devices that can be activated by various movements or touch, such as pressing a button, blowing into a tube, or tapping with a foot. Adapting toys involves modifying their design to incorporate these external switches, allowing children with limited mobility to control and interact with the toys more easily.

Switch-adapted toys can range from simple to complex, depending on the child's needs and preferences. The process of making toys switch-accessible not only opens up new possibilities for play but also contributes significantly to the child's cognitive and motor skill development. By incorporating inclusivity in toy design, we create opportunities for children of all abilities to experience the joy, learning, and social interaction that play brings.

In addition to adapting a toy, participants will also fabricate a 3D printed switch to accompany the toy. The commercial options for these switches is often high and adds an additional barrier to access. All toys and switches created as part of the workshop may be kept by participants to gift to those in their lives or will be donated to local schools and organizations.

Who is this class for?

The class is geared towards all levels of technical skill with extra support provided for those new to soldering. Makers, health professionals, caregivers, and family members of children with disabilities are encouraged to attend.

$10 is the minimum donation to cover the cost of a toy, but suggested is $20. All additional funds will go to Makers Making Change local chapter to fund volunteers who cannot cover the base price, but still want to participate, and towards future initiatives.

This is a masks optional workshop.

The leading organization:

Makers Making Change (MMC) leverages the capacity of community based Makers, Disability Professionals and Volunteers to develop and deliver affordable Open Source Assistive Technologies. This workshop will be lead by the co- leaders of the NYC chapter of MMC; Farrukh Zia, Chris Marotta and Loreto Dumitrescu. Chapter members come from a range of backgrounds including educators, engineers, designers, and health professionals such as occupational therapists.

The hosting organization:

NYC Resistor is a hacker collective with a shared space located in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. We meet regularly to share knowledge, hack on projects together, and build community.

As with all NYC Resistor events, this class is 18+ and governed by our Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct, as well as accessibility information, can be found at www.nycresistor.com/participate/. Please note that refunds must be requested 24 hours in advance. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Here's an example project using similar techniques (not the acutal toy we are adapting that day):

Host or Publisher NYC Resistor