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High-tech play
Adaptive toys allowing special needs children to play like others
Published Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Photo by Lauren Radomski
Spartan baseball player Mackenze Grunig helps Dylan Bernard, 10, with an adapted bubble-maker in the MSCTC gymnasium Tuesday.
When 25 Fergus Falls special education students visited MSCTC-Fergus Falls Tuesday, it was for no ordinary field trip.
Tuesday was all about play — play with every day toys adapted to meet the needs of children with disabilities. From bubble-makers to dolls, tee ball to Tweety Bird, the toys were modified by MSCTC students and part of the college’s sixth annual Special Events Day.
Video
Dave Seyfried speaks with Lauren Radomski about the adaptive toys modified by MSCTC students. Edited by Sam Kiefer. Watch »
“The thing I like best about this activity is we’re coordinating this with the college, the community and our school system,” said Kathleen Rittenour, a special education teacher with the school district. “It’s just a really good, united community activity.”
The toys, on display in the college gymnasium, were the work of students in David Seyfried’s Introduction to Assistive Technology and Introduction to Special Education classes, as well as Kent Bothwell’s Introduction to Recreation class. As the students explained, many toys off store shelves are hard for kids with disabilities to use.
“A lot of toys have a little switch and if you don’t have the mobility or the dexterity to get to that switch, you can’t turn it on,” said Joyce Garding. Garding joined fellow student Phena Keil in adding pedals to Spin Art painting machines, giving children a large button to press to get the paint whirling.
The Fergus Falls students tried out the modified toys with the help of Spartan baseball players, who partnered with kids in moving around the gym.
“Each year as I watch the college kids interact with our guests, it makes me feel so good,” said Bothwell, the Spartan baseball coach.
Photo by Lauren Radomski
Tuesday’s gathering at MSCTC was part of a six-year tradition at the college, bringing together Spartans and students in the public schools.
“I’ve always gotten really positive feedback from all the kids and my baseball players.”
Some of the disabilities facing visiting students Tuesday included autism, cerebral palsy and down syndrome. But at heart, Rittenour said, those special education students are the same as other children their age.
“We have a number of kids who are here who are just like other kids,” she said, “and want to play and have fun.”
Seyfried, who’s also the college’s director of disability services, said growing awareness about disabilities has led to some improvement in the way toys are made. Yet the biggest challenge to kids with disabilities remains those tiny switches that require a certain amount of dexterity to operate the toy.
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The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by cogirl (anonymous) on April 3, 2008 at 10:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I love to read articles about the activities that are offered to the disabled. Its great to read these feel good stories. Good Job to all involved!!
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