Play
Discover fun and creative ideas to encourage play time with toys, light play, music, multi-sensory activities and tactile art. Also find seasonal holiday crafts!
Filter by: Cooking and Kitchen Play, Holiday Crafts and Ideas, Light Play, Music Play, Sensory Activities, Tactile Arts and Crafts, Toys
iPad Apps and Accessibility, Music Play
Bloom Music App Review
Eric Jerman reviews the generative music iPad app, Bloom. Bloom allows children to create gentle, soft music patterns and bubbles of color with just the tap of a finger. The...
Toys, Visual Impairment
Wikki Stix for the Sight-Impaired
Wikki Stix are an easy way to create tactile graphics, assist with O & M training, map concepts, music lessons, daily living skills and much more. Since they adhere to...
Special Needs, Toys
PlayAbility Toys: Special Toys for Special Kids
PlayAbility Toys creates toys designed specifically for children with visual impairments, hearing impairments, cognitive challenges and other challenges.
Sensory Activities, Visual Impairment
Creating Sensory Activity Centers for Blind Children
Learn how to make an activity center for children with visual impairments. Using general hardware materials (like cardboard or peg-board) and other household items (like toys or kitchen utensils) you...
Music Play
Make Your Own Gong!
Learn how to make your own Chinese gong using simple objects you probably have in your kitchen. Decorate your gong with tactile crafts and make lots of noise!
Music Play
Make Your Own Sistrum, an Egyptian Rattle
Daria shows you how to make your own Sistrum, an ancient Egyptian instrument, out of a wire coat hanger, electrical tape and buttons!
Toys
Puffer Balls
This simple ball is squishy and rubbery and makes a neat noise when you shake it. Great for helping with tactile defensiveness. If your child has light perception, you can...
iPad Apps and Accessibility, Music Play
ThumbJam Music App Review
ThumbJam is a simple music app that allows your child to make beautiful, clear sounds with their iPad. It features all sorts of advanced options for changing the sounds or...
Play
Life Lessons from the VIP Special Needs Soccer Program
David wrote this essay as part of a college scholarship application. He writes about his experience as a football player in high school and compares that to his experiences volunteering...
Sensory Activities, Visual Impairment
Activity Bank: Sensory Activities for Kids who are Blind
Find sensory activities that have been adapted to meet the needs of students who are blind or visually impaired.
Holiday Crafts and Ideas, Visual Impairment
How to Help Your Blind Child Survive (and maybe even enjoy) Christmas
A holiday survival guide for parents of children with sensory impairments.
Toys
Whack-a-Mole Tower
Find out about this whack-a-mole game that develops hand-eye coordination in kids with low vision. It's fun and there are lots of blinking lights and ringing bells for encouragement!
Holiday Crafts and Ideas
Make Your Own Jingle Bells
Don't you just love the sound of jingle bells at Christmas? This easy holiday craft will show you how to make your own jingle bell bracelets, anklets and jingle sticks!
Holiday Crafts and Ideas
Make Your Own Hand & Foot Reindeer Ornament
We love holiday crafts and this one is just so creative! Find out how your child can make their very own reindeer ornament by tracing their foot and hands on...
Toys, Visual Impairment
Accessible Candy Land!
Learn how to make an accessible version of your kids' Candy Land game that is perfect for children with visual impairments.
Holiday Crafts and Ideas
Turkey Squash Thanksgiving Craft Project
If you're tired of carving pumpkins every year, why not spice things up with a decorated squash instead? Find out how to make this silly Turkey Squash with feathers and...
Play, Special Needs
ADA Regulates Accessible Playgrounds
The revised 2010 ADA sets guidelines for accessible playgrounds, parks and play spaces. Find out what these new requirements are and when they go into effect.
Holiday Crafts and Ideas
Halloween Costume Ideas for Canes and Wheelchairs
Kids with disabilities love Halloween too! Here are ideas that will incorporate your child's wheelchair or white cane into their costume.
Holiday Crafts and Ideas
Kid-Friendly Halloween Songs
Did you know that there are some amazing kids musicians creating new Halloween classics that will really get you in the spirit? We've collected our top ten favorites and created...
Music Play
The Cajita: A Little Box that is an Instrument
Daria tells you about the history of a fun instrument called a cajita and how to make one yourself out of simple materials.
Holiday Crafts and Ideas
No Therapies for a Month? Taking the Summer Off with Your Special Needs Child
When kids are out of school and therapies slow down, what do you do? Do you plan a vacation? Spend more time fishing with dad? Or feel guilty that your...
Toys
Battat Sound Puzzle Box
Every time you place a block in the correct hole, it slowly falls down the chute and makes a unique noise, so for kids with vision impairments there's some added...
Toys
Lamaze Chime Garden Musical Toy
Each flower makes a musical chime with just a soft tap. It's a very sweet sounding toy that doesn't take too much pressure to activate. It's a great way to...
Toys
Octotunes Musical Toy
Each leg on the octopus plays a different note when squeezed in a very airy and natural sound (this toy is not electronic so the sound is very peaceful). It...