Children with disabilities often are unable to use and enjoy their toys. In many cases, this thwarts their development and adds to an already frustrating situation. Family members, too, are affected by this as they see the child's development stall and are not, themselves, able to purchase playthings as gifts.

Through a national toy adaptation network, rehabilitation- related facilities are coming together to help children experience the thrill of play.

By adding dowels for better hand control; lift devices for seat elevation; hand controls for better grasping; and switches for better access, therapists and technicians have been able to assist many children with disabilities in using and enjoying their toys.

• Initial evaluations are recommended to guage each child's strengths and deficits.
• Modifications have ranged from the very basic - $10 material cost and 1 hour labor - to the more complex - $100 material cost and 8 hours labor.

In Northeastern Pennsylvania, Allied Services staff adapts nearly 100 toys each year - ranging from toy pianos to Nintendo sets.

Program Components

• Facilities must make the toy adaptation program available as a free community service.
• Facilities' telephone numbers and contact people will be included in a data bank that can direct callers to the nearest sites.
• A toll-free number, 1-888-FIX-A-TOY, is staffed by the National Rehabilitation Awareness Foundation to direct callers to the site nearest them.
• Membership is sought from across the country.
• Members would receive training from the National Rehabilitation Awareness Foundation.
• Each member can receive up to $2,500 in start-up monies to establish the program, purchase equipment and underwrite related costs.

Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation

Fundng for the toy adaptation network was made possible by the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation. The foundation, headquartered in Washington, D.C., was established in February 1991 by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation of Japan and the Mitsubishi Electric America Group companies, which produce, sell and distribute a wide range of consumer, industrial, commercial and professional electronics products. With a current endowment of $18 million, the Foundation has contributed nearly $2.7 million to organizations assisting young Americans with disabilities to lead fuller and more productive lives.

Promotion of the Network

Through trade publications, member contacts and national/ regional media, network promotion will be sought to help raise awareness of this program. The National Rehabiliation Awareness Foundation will coordinate.

For more information, call,  write or email:

Jim Brogna
National Rehabilitation Awareness Foundation
100 Abington Executive Park
Clarks Summit, PA 18411
1-888-FIX-A-TOY
pford@allied-services.org


Toy Adaptation Program Members

Toy Adaptation Network Members
Allied Services
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
allied-services.org

Frederick County Development Center
Frederick, Maryland

Tech-Able, Inc.
Conyers, Georgia
gatfl.org

The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
AMAZINGKIDS.org

The Tetra Society of North America
Anchorage, Alaska
Portland, Oregon
Columbus, Ohio
San Francisco, California
Houston, Texas

Tidewater Center for Technology Access
Virginia Beach, Virginia
tcta.ataccess.org

Bluegrass Technology Center
Lexington, Kentucky

East Tennessee Technology Access Center
Knoxville, Tennessee
korrnet.org/ettac/

Technology Access Center
Nashville, Tennessee

Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights (PACER)
PACER Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Western Kentucky Access Technology Center
Murray, Kentucky

New England Assistive Tech Marketplace
Hartford, CT
neatmarketplace.org

Helen Hayes Hospital
West Haverstraw, NY
helenhayeshospital.org

South Western Assistive Tech Resource Center (SWATRC)
Concord, NC

Technology Assistance for Special Consumers
Huntsville, Alabama

RePlay for Kids
Northeast Ohio
replayforkids.org

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