NorQuest College lends tech skills to adapt toys for kids with disabilities

Students and staff at Norquest College are taking part in "Hacking the Holidays," an event that makes toys more friendly for kids with disabilities.

For the second year, NorQuest College has rallied volunteers to make commercial toys more accessible in time for the gift-giving season.

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The volunteers gathered Tuesday to put their knowledge and skills about assistive technology to charitable use.

While working on a Stitch, of Lilo and Stitch fame, bubble maker, Maanit Shah explained, “I’ve opened it up, I’ve taken the switch apart from the actual functionality of the toy, and then (I will) modify it to make it more accessible.”

“The kids that are going to be using this don’t have the ability to press the buttons that are on the toy to turn it on and off…. So by adding an external switch to the toy, they will be able to press the button a little bit more easily.”

Similarly, another volunteer, Jenna Gauthier, replaced the animation buttons on a stuffed koala bear with larger buttons by rewiring the toy.

“Instead of pressing these tiny buttons on the feet, a child can just slap down on a larger button. There’s a lot less precision. It’s a lot easier to facilitate if they need support, or a lot easier for them to do independently.”

Their efforts are part of an initiative called “Hacking for the Holidays” by Makers Making Change, a Neil Squire Society program. The non-profit advocates for Canadians with disabilities.

NorQuests’s manager of business enterprises said initiative aligns with the college’s goal of building a community and providing programming that is supportive and accessible.

Jackie Nguyen estimated the volunteers save families hundreds of dollars by donating their time to simply adapt the toys, as commercially adapted toys are significantly more expensive.

Using tools like screw drivers, wire cutters, a soldering iron, and occasionally a 3D printer, she estimated the material cost per adapted toy is less than $20.

“Play is such a huge developmental milestone in (a child’s) journey, so giving them access to play is so critical,” Nguyen said. “And adapting toys for them during the holiday just makes it extra special.”

“The outcome, creating a toy, is really rewarding,” echoed Gauthier. “Too bad I won’t be there to see the little person open it and how happy they are – but (it’s) fun to imagine.”

The toys are distributed by Makers Making Change, which collects applications to determine need.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Marek Tkach