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Adapting Toys yourself is fun for
adults and youth to learn how to do. It makes a GREAT service project! Troop 418 in
Olympia had a good time learning how to adapt toys.
(SEE
NEWSPAPER
ARTICLE)
IEEE (Institute of
Electronic and Electrical Engineers) clubs at colleges can easily do this
for a service project. That's where I started doing it, at the
college of electrical engineering at Northern Arizona University.
As long the toy works off of batteries, there is a 99%
chance that a switch can be hooked up so a handicapped / disabled child
can use it.
If you want to
adapt a toy or massager- Do it yourself!
Click Here
If you don't want to
mess with wires and solder you can purchase items below.
If you already
have a toy, and you want to adapt it yourself then here are some ideas.
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BATTERY INTERRUPTER ADAPTER
Special needs
handicapped or disabled children typically love massagers. The
vibration often makes them smile and laugh.
Typically this
type of device requires NO modifications - just a battery interrupter as
shown to the right.
You will need to
cut or melt a small hole in the battery compartment door to allow this wire
to enter into the battery compartment. A notching file is used to make
this enty hole for you. The picture on the right is a notching file. Click on the image to the right
to see where you can order this. |
Battery Device Adapter - C or D batteries
 Notching File |
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DO IT YOURSELF
ADAPTATION OF BOB THE BUILDER
Many toys that get
activated by pushing a button on them will use this same adaptive special
needs approach. Here is a step by step instructions to
adapt a toy Bob The Builder. This toy is appealing to children
who enjoy the heavy vibration that has a tickling sensation. This uses
digital logic to sense when a person squeezes Bob's hand.
How to adapt Bob The Builder Jackhammer
Many toys
these days have digital logic and this approach can be used on just about
any of them. If you need help please let me know by email. bdwhaley@scienceshareware.com
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Click here
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How to adapt a power wheels or
jeep electric car for
hand switch instead of pedal switch. |
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Blue has a friend
names Magenta. She likes to vibrate when triggered. And many
special needs handicapped children love that! |
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| Adapting Toys is fun for youth to learn how
to do. It makes a GREAT service project! Troop 418 in
Olympia had a good time learning how to adapt toys. As long the toy works off of batteries, there is a 99%
chance that a switch can be hooked up so a handicapped / disabled child
can use it. |
Click on picture to enlarge
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| If
the toy has many buttons then a $2.00 selector switch can be installed into
the toy or glue gunned to the side of the toy allowing contact to each of
the buttons on the toy.
The toy would still need the 1/8 female head phone jack. |
Click on picture to enlarge
Adaptive Toy with Selector Switch |
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LabVIEW Computer
Automated Toy Helicopter project
(Adapted with
joy stick for special needs kids)
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Click on picture to enlarge
Toy Helicopter being modified for the computer. |
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