Toys For Disabled Kids..

Rusti4

Hi to all members & guests.;)

I don't know if i've posted this in the correct forum so, no doubt someone will advise me.
I noticed a thread in 2009 when a member asked where could toys be purchased for her son who had ADHD.
I myself have a PSV/PCV license & have driven for all 4 of my local Borough Councils for Education, Disabled & Special Needs and had/have much respect for all in the above categories, no matter what age group.

Ironically & years later now, i am Disabled myself now so, not only was i looking in on those people then, i am now looking out as one of those people now!

As a father of 2 non-disabled children myself, i admit that i have taken toys for granted & never really thought about what it's like for disabled children to play with ordinary toys or any problems they may have with thier use etc so..

Tonight whilst looking on the net for toys for my kids, i saw a search for toys under the cat for,ADHD, Autism, Blind & Visually Impaired, Cerebral Palsy, Disabilities, Down's Syndrome, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia
I then came across a company/shop based near my home town of London.

Let me clarify that i'm not promoting or advertising this company for revenue gain or any business purpose, i'm advising members of the relevance to 'Appropriate' toys for disabled kids..nothing more!

Sense Toys is a London toy shop that specialises in special needs toys in London, N1 1JH.

Let me tell you a little about them?
Though it's a family run business & sells ordinary toys, all items in the range are helpful to children, parents or carers who are helping to deal with learning disabilities and special needs – these can include delayed or poor language development, spectrum disorders, autism, dyspraxia or development delays.:T
They have categories on thier website such as verbal play skills, non-verbal play and books, with clear sub categories for each one. The excellent images and descriptions of each product helps customers ensure they are making exactly the right choices. Sense Toys products help to make learning rewarding and fun for parents, carers and children with specific learning difficulties – quite often even "standard" toys can assist customers in producing astonishing results if they can find them and more importantly, know the most effective way to use them.
There is plenty of practical advice and information on the Sense Toys website for carers and parents, especially those that are new to coping and learning all about special needs for the first time.:A
Sense Toys can help their customers find and select which toys they need and clearly explains how to use them and why they work.:j

I myself have visited thier website & it's excellent!
They are at present, also running a 'Clearance Sale' where some of the toys are as cheap as £4.99!
That's brill for a learning toy as put it this way, i went to a local toy store & bought my daughter a 'Minnie Mouse' soft toy that cost me over £6.00 & it does absolutely nothing except look nice!

Thanks for your time to read this post, good luck to all Disabled & all the best from me:beer:

kingfisherblue

Sense toys can be quite expensive. Personally I find that https://www.fledglings.org.uk is far better. They don't have a wide range of toys, but what they do have has been tested and recommended by parents. This is the case for all of their products - and some have been created by families of disabled children to fill a gap in the market.

Also, many 'ordinary' toys can be used with disabled children. There isn't always the need to pay out high prices. Orchard Toys have some great games - many are ideal for disabled children. My son particularly likes 'Pop to the shops'. We don't always play the games according to the published rules, wwe adapt them to suit my son's needs.

Finally, in many towns there are toy libraries. These are great as you can borrow toys and see if your child actually likes it. A small charge is usually made, but it is minimal compared to the cost of the toys. Our local child development centre has a toy library specifically for children with special needs.

Vicky123

I have to say that toys for disabled kids are such a rip off, yet another example of people cashing in. Toy library is best, at least then you can try before you buy.

Rusti4

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Sense toys can be quite expensive. Personally I find that www.fledglings.org.uk is far better. They don't have a wide range of toys, but what they do have has been tested and recommended by parents. This is the case for all of their products - and some have been created by families of disabled children to fill a gap in the market.

Also, many 'ordinary' toys can be used with disabled children. There isn't always the need to pay out high prices. Orchard Toys have some great games - many are ideal for disabled children. My son particularly likes 'Pop to the shops'. We don't always play the games according to the published rules, wwe adapt them to suit my son's needs.

Finally, in many towns there are toy libraries. These are great as you can borrow toys and see if your child actually likes it. A small charge is usually made, but it is minimal compared to the cost of the toys. Our local child development centre has a toy library specifically for children with special needs.

---

Good evening,

To say I’m astonished at your comment would be an understatement however, you are entitled to your opinion, be it an alarming one or not!

Here's a head's up for you...
Firstly, Sense toys are most certainly NOT expensive!

As I quoted in my original OP, I found a toy on there for just £4.99!
That's NOT expensive compared to some toys and good parents do whatever it takes for their kids...No matter what the cost, money or otherwise!

Secondly, we don't need a reminder that ordinary toys can be used for disabled children, if you'd read my OP properly, I’ve already quoted it!

In addition, again you comment,”There isn't always the need to pay out high prices"
Who said anything about high prices? Not me!
As I’ve said, if you call just a mere £4.99 expensive for a specialist disabled toy for a child, then your comments speak for themselves don't they?

As for toy libraries and your try before you buy comment...
We are talking about disabled children here, not computer software or cars!
In addition, these libraries toys you refer to have had every other Tom, !!!!!! and Harry’s kid's hands all over them already and then you expect me to give it to my children?
Or worse still, you believe it's ok to give it to your child?
Rrrright.
Well be my guest but, personally, I wouldn't give those to my children if you paid me!!

Finally on this 'Toy Library Try before You Buy' business,
Has no one ever heard of Hygiene?

Most of us know that young children are susceptible to all kinds of germs, bacteria, viruses & diseases etc as their immune systems are not properly developed yet, that's without the poor little mites being disabled as well!!

For all users like you whom clearly place a price tag over a child's health & development, here's a heads up that you & others clearly need...

You have obviously never heard of a 'FOMITE'
A ‘Fomite’ is an object that becomes contaminated by touch (the fomite) then spreads the infection by touch.
Here are some examples of what children can catch from these 'Library Toys'
Abscesses
Anthrax (cutaneous)
Athlete’s foot
Cold sores
Conjunctivitis (“pink eye”)
Coxsackievirus (hand-foot-mouth disease)
Croup
Diarrhea (infectious)
Diphtheria (cutaneous)
Ebola
Impetigo
Lice
Ringworm
RSV
Scabies

Those are just some so, you go right ahead & continue to believe these Toy Library places are ok & I’ll close now before I say something I’ll regret!!

Rusti4

Vicky123 wrote: »

I have to say that toys for disabled kids are such a rip off, yet another example of people cashing in. Toy library is best, at least then you can try before you buy.

Good Evening Vicky,

Again as with King, your comments astonish me!

Don't you think that disabled children are 'Deprived' enough in life?
Don't you think that these children have to go without enough in life already?
That's without them not even getting a small toy to play with because...what was it you said?
Oh yes, disabled toys for kids are a rip off!:mad:
Unbelievable!

As for your comment of "yet another example of people cashing in"
I find that comment in very bad taste!:mad:

It's people like you who give companies like these a bad name!:mad:
You also appear to be one of those people i used to see pointing, staring and laughing at these children whilst i drove them around in a disabled bus!!

In addition to this, if you believe that comment to be true, then why don't you send it to Sense & Orchard yourself?
I'm sure they'd be delighted at your comment that the service they provide is a rip off and just an excuse to cash in?

As for your 'Toy Library' comment..:(
Oh, you are one of those like King?

I suggest you take a good long read of my reply to King Vicky.
Those are just a few of the potential diseases these 'Library Toys' can transmit so, you have a look at what these diseases do to children and then decide if you still think these Toy Libraries are best!

lin473

I must say we've used toy libraries for years and caught nothing on your list!
After all we would have to ban all toys in nurseries,playgroups, schools ets 'just in case'.

For someone who has no connection with this company,you are remarkably defensive.

I can't comment on their prices as none of the links work.

Prinzessilein

Just in case anyone reads Rusti4's comments about toy libraries and is worried; I'd like to offer a more reassuring viewpoint.

In my experience, toys from toy-libraries are not germ-ridden. Libraries are very careful to ensure that the toys are kept in a good state of repair and cleanliness.

A child is highly unlikely to pick up diseases from toys. Whilst some germs may, in theory, be transferred from child to toy to another child. This is actually not a common occurrence - most germs do not live that long, and simple hygiene precautions at the library will kill most/all of those that remain.

If library toys were a health risk (and IMHO they are not!) then the same would be said of library books....and school toys....and toys in doctor's/dentist's/hospital waiting areas....and toys belong to friends/brothers/sisters....et.c

Toy libraries provide a terrific service, and are safe.

(Just for the record, in the days when I was fit enough for work, I worked extensively with children/young adults with a variety of learning disabilities. My job was to do initial assessments and set up/implement individual learning plans for these youngsters. We used a variety of books/toys/assessment tools that were used by dozens/hundreds of people and to my knowledge never had one case of illness being passed on via these items!)

Tigsteroonie

lin473 wrote: »

I must say we've used toy libraries for years and caught nothing on your list!
After all we would have to ban all toys in nurseries,playgroups, schools ets 'just in case'.

Us too - Andrew's pre-schools adviser brings him new toys from our Toy Library every month and he's caught nothing yet!

OP - nobody's responses were attacking you personally. So there is no reason for you to become this agitated and respond with remarks like "You also appear to be one of those people i used to see pointing, staring and laughing at these children whilst i drove them around in a disabled bus!!" If you continue in such an unfriendly manner, your posts will be reported to the Abuse team.

kingfisherblue

OP, personally I don't think my opinion is alarming, and from other responses, neither do other posters. Your opinion, however, is remarkably defensive and patronising. As for your comment about good parents doing whatever it takes for their children, no matter what the cost - yes, I do whatever is best for my children, including my disabled son. You have no right to imply otherwise. Like many parents of disabled children, I revolve my entire life around my son's needs - and this includes finding appropriate toys at a cost I can afford, not just purchasing them from a company that specialises in toys for children with special needs. Your comment is offensive.

One toy is £4.99 (but note, this is from the clearance section according to your post) - well, many other toys are expensive. According to research (I think it was by Contact A Family or the Joseph Rowntree Trust), families with disabled children are among the poorest members of society. Many of us simply cannot afford some of these toys for our children. I suppose the definition of expensive varies according to your income - for me, many are out of my price range.

Regarding ordinary toys, you actually stated that you have 'never really thought about what it's like for disabled children to play with ordinary toys or any problems they may have with their use etc' - maybe you do need a reminder that ordinary toys can be used by disabled children as you have obviously never given it much thought.

As for toy libraries - yes, we are talking about disabled children. This is something that I have quite a bit of knowledge about, both on a personal level and in theory (my degree is in Inclusive Education, which includes children with all types of special needs). On a personal level, I have a son with complex needs. He was born with Down's Syndrome and several rare conditions that necessitated life saving surgery at nine hours old. Even though his life was saved (for which I will always be incredibly grateful), he was left with a number of disabilities as a result. My son is now 13, so I have a number of years personal experience. I also have several friends whose children have a variety of disabilities, I have volunteered in a local special school for two years, as well as three years volunteering in mainstream school with children who have special needs. I also have girls in my Rainbow and Brownie units who are disabled. So, a wide range of experience there I think.

Toy libraries - a great idea and not in the least bit dangerous. The toys in the libraries that I have used are clean, with those in the special needs toy library cleaned between each use. Many children with disabilities have poor immunity, but I have never known any to catch a disease from toys in a toy library.

I do not put a price tag on my child's health and development - again, you have no reason to say this. You have no idea what I do or what I spend on my child. Your patronising and judgmental attitude is appalling and this forum is not the place for such rude and inaccurate comments. You are also patronising when you refer to disabled children as 'poor little mites'.

Your snobbish attitude is dreadful. You may have driven a bus for disabled children, and are now disabled yourself, but that does not qualify you as an expert on toys for children with special needs. I don't count myself as an expert, but I do have a great deal more interest and experience than you.

I also find your post to Vicky very offensive. Nowhere in her post did she give cause for your comment 'You also appear to be one of those people I used to see pointing, staring and laughing at these children whilst I drove them around in a disabled bus!!' You are out of order making that assumption. The rules of this forum include being polite to all money savers - well, your comments are anything but polite.

I appreciate that you originally posted to advise other posters about a company that you feel may be beneficial to some, but your following posts are patronising and offensive in places. Parents of disabled children don't really need that - we get it often enough in everyday life without reading it on a public forum.

Please understand that we, too, are entitled to our opinions - and several posters are of the opinion that toy librarties can be beneficial, even if you don't agree. Some of us are also of the opinion that toys made for disabled children can be and often are, overpriced. We have learned this through experience, something that you don't have and do not give us credit for.

Vicky123

I don't really have time to read the thread in it's entireity as I have 2 disabled children to see to, not sure how many the OP has?
I would like to say though that as a family we have spent several thousand pounds on our disabled children who are now in their teens, so been there, done that and bought the T-Shirt.
Trying emotional blackmail on someone like myself by saying all good parents would do blah, blah doesn't work but I would like to say to all parents of newly diagnosed children, please learn from my experience there is a massive business out there of people exploiting the disabled, they will say anything to promote whatever it is they are trying to sell, quite shameful really.
OK just looked at his reply to me, what a compete jerk, he is a bus driver accusing me of laughing at the disabled without knowing I am a parent of 2 disabled children, stick to driving the bus is my advice as you might actually know something about that!

Richie-from-the-Boro

Good Evening Rusti4,

- emotional blackmail is a taught strategy / skill designed to access [ in this case ] the perceived guilt and vulnerability of the parent
- provocative introduction is also a taught ' direct selling skill `, it generally goes under the sub strategy of [ Seven Super Seconds ] get their attention

When you first posted I thought it was spam selling .. .. but could not connect you to Dr C**is**f M**ch**w / C**n*r C**e Limited. You techniques for dealing with anyone on this board who disagrees with you leaves a lot to be desired, your slick ' selling skills ' designed to crush any opinion other than your own leaves no room for debate and no opportunity for anyone else to voice their views.

To others .. .. this will be my first and last post, keeping this thread alive by posting in it is precisely what the O/P wants to happen.

My suggestion .. .. .. read if you must .. .. .. but do not post.