The idea of modifying toys for students with disabilities came out of my interest in circuitry and technology. I love to just take things apart and understand how the circuit board works, where the wires are going, and this passion is really what led me to start Adaptive Tech Club.
The controls on commercial toys are often not accessible to kids with disabilities, because require fine motor skills in order to interact with them.So, we take apart toys and create custom modifications with more accessible features. Whether it be replacing a remote control with a joystick or adding one large button, we really reimagine the controls. I’m really proud of the community that I’ve built in Adaptive Tech Club. We have over 60 members now, working together adapting these toys. And in partnership with the Oakland Unified School District, we’ve created a lending library of over 200 custom devices. Seeing the toys in action is just so special. These devices are not only giving these kids joy, but they’re also a huge motivation to learn and engage. I’m so happy to see them just have fun and learn to interact with the world.