Two of the students had previously attended a toy hacking workshop at Adaptive Design Association, in New York City, along with Ms Yokana, to learn from the toy hacking experts at DIYability. There they learned the specifics behind taking apart the toys, identifying the switches and figuring out where to solder the leads to the new switches. Students learned that an adaptive toy, one made specifically for those with disabilities, can cost hundreds of dollars more than a regular toy. They also learned to make simple, big switches from cardboard, tape and aluminum foil. After spending a Sunday morning at ADA, they were all excited to teach their classmates and hack more toys.
The speech pathologists at IAHD worked with Ms Yokana to identify toys their patients would enjoy. Then, SHS students went to work. Pulling apart the remote controlled toys, they soldered wires to the solder pads of the existing buttons, which they soldered to switch jacks. By soldering the switch jack onto the solder pads of the existing switch, they were adding a second switch to the circuit. This second switch could be attached to an accessibility button, which students had made. Students finished up there soldering and fitted the toys back together.
On the last day before winter break, the speech pathologists from IAHD came to accept the toys bringing with them one of the residents from their group home. The joy was evident the moment Rima saw the toys! She played with all of them and immediately picked her favorite: the bubble blower. Our students were excited to see how happy the toys made Rima. In one student's words, "It was so easy for us to do and it brought her so much joy!" They also all agreed that it was a great way to learn more about circuitry and electronics. |
