What Are Switch-Adapted and Switch-Activated Toys and Games?
With toys and games that operate using a capability switch, individuals with disabilities can engage in enjoyable, fulfilling activities that unlock their full potential and provide valuable learning experiences. At Enabling Devices, we offer trusted toys and games for children and adults with a variety of functional needs (commonly referred to as special needs).
Our toys and products are specifically and thoughtfully designed to engage users in play while they learn essential life skills. Switch-activated and switch-adapted toys introduce a range of concepts, including cause and effect, communication and acclimating to new sensory experiences.
Tailoring Play to Functional Needs
Children and adults with disabilities understand and discover the world differently than people without disabilities, but many toys and products don’t cater to their needs. With an adaptive toy, play is more accessible for individuals with disabilities who want to explore the world. They also help users join in on the play and learn about how the person sees the world and processes information.
Toys that engage the senses in a safe, comfortable environment help those with functional needs engage with their environments on their own terms. These toys allow kids and adults to experience new sensory input while still in control, making the experience less scary and more relaxing for them. They also provide stimulation for sensory-seeking individuals.
Types of Accessible Toys Available From Enabling Devices
To accommodate the unique ways adults and children with disabilities play, we sell a large selection of accessible toys. The major types of toys we offer for individuals with disabilities include:
1. Switch-Adapted Toys and Switch-Activated Toys
Both switch-adapted and switch-activated toys activate with an external capability switch. The difference is that switch-adapted toys have been modified to connect to a switch that’s easier for children and adults with special needs to interact with.
For example, a popular traditional toy like a toy car or plush toy can be modified to include a switch for users with disabilities. An existing toy that may not have been accessible before can now be activated once the user presses a button, blinks an eye or puffs air through their mouth. This is called a switch-adapted toy!
Switch-activated toys are unique products that can help many individuals with different disabilities have fun, learn new skills, strengthen existing skills and become more comfortable exploring new sensory experiences. Enabling Devices designs and builds toys with specific learning goals in mind. For example, a toy might be designed to help eye-tracking skills, improve fine motor skills or reward certain actions. Others are designed to meet a wide range of needs and sensory-motor abilities.
2. Sensory Toys and Products
Sensory toys and devices for individuals with functional needs stimulate any of the five senses for therapeutic benefit. Some products are designed to relax and soothe, while others are designed to engage the user or acclimate the user to sounds, lights, vibrations and textures. Sensory products can be useful for children with auditory, visual or tactile sensitivities.
These children’s toys allow the user to get used to certain sounds, lights and colors in a fun and exciting way, which may help them feel calmer when facing new stimuli in a different environment. Toys and games for kids with autism or functional needs help them enhance their senses while meeting their needs. Ask us about our sensory room design and quote services for help creating the ultimate sensory space.
3. Soft Play Sensory
Soft play toys and cushions create a comfortable and safe place for someone to play and relax. They can provide a tactile experience or offer protection for a child who needs extra cushioning. They’re an ideal way to help someone enjoy playing in an environment that reduces anxiety and frustration. With a more comfortable place to play, individuals can better engage with sensory stimuli and focus on learning.
4. Communication Devices and Development Products
Communication devices enable children and adults who are non-speaking to communicate. These special needs tools not only give them a voice but can also be used as teaching tools, building a person’s language skills by starting with one message and increasing from there. Many of our products also make communicating fun with bright colors, custom-recorded messages and tactile experiences. People of all ages and abilities can use these devices to communicate with others.
Why Are Switch-Adapted and Switch-Activated Toys Important?
Everyone learns through play, and playing allows people with disabilities to learn skills on their own terms. Accessible toys offer a number of benefits for children and adults with disabilities.
1. Communication and Social Skills Development
Play empowers children and adults with disabilities to communicate and share with others. If someone can’t express their feelings through language, they can show their reactions to sensory toys and new experiences. Playing with others enables people to learn social skills and see how others share ideas.
2. Sensory Stimulation and Calming
Individuals with sensory processing disorders can feel over or under-stimulated easily, causing anxiety, focus issues or hyperactivity. Fidget/“stim” toys and sensory toys offer the stimulation or relaxation needed to feel calm and focused.
3. Motor Skills Development
People with disabilities can improve their fine and oral motor skills through play. Toys that encourage grasping, eye-hand coordination, chewing and manipulating the mouth help someone develop these capabilities and strengthen their muscles.
4. Visual Tracking and Attention
Visual impairment and low vision make it challenging to keep track of an object’s position. Devices and toys that are brightly colored and make enticing sounds promote visual tracking and attention. Specially designed adaptive switches also help people with visual impairment play with toys, activate devices and use technology.
5. Cognitive Development
People with disabilities can use a wide range of tools and devices, including switch-adapted toys, to stimulate their minds and learn concepts such as cause and effect, directionality and object recognition. Some toys introduce letters and numbers, animals and their sounds or body parts. Adaptive toys help people with disabilities take important steps toward future learning. They can also build sensory-motor skills needed for handwriting or keyboarding, for example, in preparation for school.
Common Questions About Switch-Adapted and Switch-Activated Toys
Here are some frequently asked questions about these toys.
Why Use Switch-Adapted and Switch-Activated Toys?
These types of toys enable individuals to:
- Play and learn independently.
- Build their confidence in their abilities.
- Become an active participant.
- Learn what they’re capable of.
- Engage in activities without as much reliance on others.
- Meet crucial developmental milestones.
- Experience the joys of playtime regardless of their needs.
When and Where Can Children Use These Toys?
Children with disabilities can use products, toys and devices from Enabling Devices anywhere! Special education classrooms stock a range of products for their students. Parents also have toys at home and for on-the-go to both keep their kids entertained and reinforce skills taught in the classroom or in therapy. Toys can be used to help focus, calm or comfort a child in a new situation.
Toys and devices from Enabling Devices are helpful tools to have when traveling, visiting public places or taking children with disabilities to a new location where they may feel overwhelmed or over-stimulated. From noise-canceling headphones to toys and games that provide a pleasant distraction, kids can use our devices to make the world more comfortable and accessible for their needs.
How Do These Toys Teach Cause and Effect?
Switch-adapted and switch-activated toys can help children and adults with cognitive disabilities learn cause and effect by understanding that their actions cause something to happen. Learning to activate a toy, for example, allows users to witness what happens as they activate the switch.
Cause and effect may also support an individual’s comfort with new sensory input as they build associations between actions and exert control. Eventually, they can work their way up to changing the way they interact with objects to see different outcomes.
What Is a Capability Switch?
A capability or adaptive switch is specifically designed to allow users to activate toys, devices and technology with an alternative to a traditional on/off switch. For example, certain types of switches are ideal for individuals with limited mobility or challenges with sustaining hand and wrist movements. A capability switch can be introduced to offer solutions like providing a larger target or a more sensitive switch.
Children and adults with special needs include those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), physical disabilities or visual impairment. Capability switches make it easier for users with unique mobility and functional needs to participate in academic, social, vocational and life skills.
What Are the Different Types of Capability Switches?
Capability switches come in many variations to accommodate different needs and abilities, and generally fall under three categories:
- Timed switches: Users can turn on a toy or device using a timed switch that keeps it activated for a set amount of time.
- Latch switches: A latch switch is helpful for individuals who struggle to sustain hand pressure for long periods of time. This two-function capability switch turns on and off using a single press with a lighter activation force.
- Momentary switches: Users who can maintain a certain level of pressure on a switch can use momentary switches to keep a device on as long as they continue activating it.
Within these categories, you can find adaptive switches that give the user the best control based on different parts of the body, such as:
- Eye-blink switches
- Hand and finger switches
- Pinch switches
- Grip and puff switches
- Sip and puff switches
- Head switches
- Tilt switches
- Finger switches
Finding the right capability switch for your student or family member depends on many factors, including their perception, range of motion, targeting ability and the amount of force they can use.
How Do These Toys Support Individuals With Cerebral Palsy?
Children and adults with cerebral palsy may have limited use of their hands. This can make grasping, pushing buttons and releasing toys challenging. Switch-adapted and switch-activated toys and games change their play environment by removing barriers to playing independently.
These toys can help individuals with cerebral palsy engage in fun and safe play while building their mental, social and cognitive skills. Users can also interact with these toys to practice what they’ve learned in physical or occupational therapy, such as coordination or hand strength.
What Custom Options Does Enabling Devices Provide?
Everyone should have the chance to play with the toys and devices they like and need. If you have a certain adapted product in mind but can’t find it, our design experts may be able to help. We design and manufacture many of our products right here in the U.S.A. Because we do it right here, we can sometimes accommodate modifications of existing products or create products with custom capabilities for our customers. Contact us to learn more.
Whatever options you’re looking for, we’re here to provide trusted solutions so children and adults with functional needs can experience play for themselves. Our team understands each individual is unique, and we’re committed to creating toys and devices that match those needs. Our goal is to provide switch-activated and other special needs toys to help each adult and child with a disability play, learn and interact with the world.
