Toy Features for Kids with Sensory Disabilities

These toy features work well for children with sensory disabilities:

Various textures give a child added stimulation and more exploration opportunities.
Vibration gives a child added stimulation.
Lights and sounds add auditory and visual stimulation, which increases the child’s interest in and attention to the toy.
Raised buttons assist children with visual impairments in locating the activation switch.
Rattles in the toy features promote awareness of the toy and maintains a child’s attention.
Scented toys add interest and stimulation.
Mouthable toys give a child opportunities to explore their environment.
Adjustability in toy features allows them to be set at sound or rhythm levels that fit the child’s needs.
High color contrast increases the child’s ability to see the toy and play area—note that red, white, and black are the colors that children see first.
Clear outlines on toys and play spaces (either visual or tactile) make it easier for a child to see and feel the toy.
Shapes that differentiate toy pieces help a child play (e.g. play food in identifiable shapes, different shaped pegs on a pegboard to signal different colors).

Provided By Susan J. Oliver, Tropomedia
This information is provided on behalf of the toy experts at your neighborhood toy store.