Hacking For The Holidays: Adapting Toys For Children With Disabilities

Hacking For The Holidays: Adapting Toys For Children With Disabilities

Join Neil Squire's Makers Making Change team at this exciting event where volunteers will adapt toys for children with disabilities!

By Makers Making Change

Date and time

Saturday, November 30 · 1 - 3:30pm AST

Location

234 Shakespeare Dr

234 Shakespeare Drive Stratford, PE C1B 2V8 Canada

Refund Policy

Refunds up to 7 days before event
Eventbrite's fee is nonrefundable.

About this event

  • Event lasts 2 hours 30 minutes

Join us to give kids with disabilities the gift of play!


Makers Making Change is excited to host this exciting Hacking for the Holidays event in Prince Edward Island.

Volunteers will be provided with instructions, tools and materials to adapt a toy for switch access. Never done anything like this before? Don’t worry, no prior experience working with tools or electronics is required — we’ll walk you through every step. Everyone is welcome.

This event will be held in the Southport Room.


Why is this so important?

Every child deserves to play. But for many kids with disabilities, toys can be hard to use independently, and commercially adapted versions can run upwards of $300. However, with a little bit of tinkering, we can switch-adapt toys and make them accessible for a fraction of the cost.

The event is part of our Hacking for the Holidays campaign. From September to December, we’re engaging volunteers — students, corporate partners, and other community members — in 80 build events across 10 provinces to help us adapt and donate 2,000 toys and switches to families and clinicians all over Canada.

More information on Hacking For The Holidays


About Makers Making Change

At Makers Making Change, a Neil Squire program, with our community of volunteers and library of over 200+ open-source designs that can be made by anyone, we enable people with disabilities to obtain affordable assistive devices and live life to the fullest.


About Neil Squire Society

“We use Technology, Knowledge, and Passion to Empower Canadians with Disabilities.” Neil Squire, the Canadian leader in assistive technology, has been revolutionizing the lives of Canadians with disabilities since 1984. Our work is focused on four distinct areas: Innovation, Digital Literacy, Employment, and Assistive Technology. Our work enables people with disabilities to achieve their goals, reach their full potential and continue living life to the fullest.


How are the toys donated?

We collect individual requests for toys on our website (must be logged in)and we have strong relationships with children's hospitals, rehab centres, and occupational therapists across Canada.


Waivers

  1. Event Participation Waiver (Required). Please review here
  2. Media Release (Optional). Please review here

Frequently asked questions

What are switch adapted toys?

Switch Adapted Toys are standard battery-powered toys that have been modified to add a 3.5mm headphone jack to allow the toy to be turned on by an Assistive Switch. The standard buttons and switches on most toys are not accessible to all kids. This process allows all kids to play and have fun!

Why are switch adapted toys needed?

Switch Adapted Toys are available to purchase, but are very expensive and the variety is very limited. Creating these toys allows kids with disabilities to play and learn with exciting toys and relieves some of the financial burdens on families

Do I need to bring anything?

No, All tools, materials, and instructions will be provided on site!

Can kids participate?

Yes, with conditions. All Minors will need to be accompanied at the event by an Adult. We recommend that participating kids are at least 10 years of age as they will be working with small components and hot soldering irons.

If I am in need of a toy with switch access, can I receive a toy from this event?

If you are a family or clinician who would benefit from receiving a switch adapted toy, please reach out to our organizers as we can make further arrangements for a toy donation

Organized by

Makers Making Change connects makers to people with disabilities and volunteers who can build assistive technology. Our mission is to achieve economic and social inclusiveness for all people with disabilities.

We feature a library of 200+ open-source assistive devices with parts, instructions, and reviews to support makers helping people with disabilities in their community.

Makers Making Change is one of the many programs at Neil Squire, a non-profit that has been revolutionizing the lives of Canadians with disabilities since 1984.

Free