Marcie, an engineer at Goodyear, learned about RePlay for Kids like many parents do. She was visiting United Disability Services in Akron, to borrow toys for her daughter, Lucy, who was six years old at the time. Lucy was born with a neurological disorder, resulting in multiple disabilities. Lucy uses assistive devices, including adapted toys, as a part of her day-to-day activities. She uses them to play by herself, to interact with her siblings and peers, and to learn communication skills. The toys she uses have been adapted with different types of switches, so that she can control them herself, even with her disabilities.
Lucy’s family has purchased a few devices and adapted toys of their own, but the lending library at United Disability Services allows them to try different types of switches to see what works best for Lucy, and to rotate their supply of toys, so she remains challenged, interested and engaged.
One day, as Marcie and a staff member were looking through the toys and testing them, she noticed that many were not fully functional, and watched as the broken toys were placed into a box labeled, “RePlay for Kids.” The staff member explained that RePlay for Kids repairs and adapts toys for UDS, free of charge, so they may be borrowed by families, therapists and child care centers who have a need.
Marcie was immediately intrigued. An engineer herself, she thought she could help RePlay by organizing a toy repair workshop, and recruiting her engineer and techie friends to join in. The very first workshop was a great success. While she was most interested in helping to provide adapted toys for children who need them, other workshop participants simply enjoyed fixing the toys!
Many productive workshops later, Marcie is just as enthusiastic about RePlay for Kids. She appreciates the adapted toys and repair services they provide for children with special needs like Lucy, and she enjoys being a part of the process by repairing and adapting toys herself.
Some parents attend the workshops to learn how to adapt their own toys. 3-yeor-old Rakaya was born with cerebral palsy.
"(The toys) teach Rakaya cause and
effect," as well as independence, Rakaya's mom said. "She wants to play with them by herself, and I never thought l'd see that day."
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Eloise wanted to thank you again for all the new toys! Most are going under the tree for Christmas but we decided to play with Cookie Monster today and she loves him! I also want to thank you for all you do! Eloise has a spinning hamburger toy that was adapted at one of your workshops over 2 years ago. It has been her favorite ever since and having that toy taught her how to play. Your organization has had a very real and very meaningful impact on her life. Thank you again!
"I like the hands-on getting something done that will directly benefit a child that needs it. Also, working things out with coworkers that I normally do not work with was fun." - Volunteer, ArceloMittal
"As a speech pathologist working with young children with disabilities, I love the adapted toys that RePlay for Kids provides. I am able to loan toys out to families to try with their children. The variety of toys adapted is a great help as we try to find something motivating to each individual child. Often these early cause and effect toys set the stage for more complex communication using augmentative switches or devices down the road." - speech pathologist
"RePlay has conducted a toy refitting workshop three times at Beaumont School. The girls are always nervous at first, but once in their groups, they dive in and start revving up those power tools! We can't wait for the next time." - High School Teacher, Beaumont School
"I am an SLP working in several different school districts within northeastern Ohio and RePlay has adapted and repaired numerous toys and switches for different school districts. I have been in. RePlay has done a great job on adapting these toys and fixed them in a timely manner. RePlay has always done a great job repairing and adapting our toys. " - AAC Consultant, Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities
On behalf of EY’s Northeast Ohio office, we’d like to thank Replay for Kid’s for opening its doors (as always!) to our volunteers on our annual day of service, EY Connect Day. We’ve since received such positive feedback from our people about their experience and look forward to participating in future workshops! - Volunteers, Ernst & Young
"Love that we can help challenged children to have some fun. Thought the event was wonderful."
"I think it was very interesting and I would do it again. I left feeling really good like I accomplished something that will help kids with disabilities. Very satisfying. The instructors were wonderful."
