Adaptoys, created by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, are adapted versions of popular toys that allow people with physical disabilities to participate in active play with their kids, friends, and family.
Adaptoys will bring their services to the 5.6 million Americans living with paralysis by equipping toys with voice activation, motion sensors, and sip-and-puff (SNP) assistive technology. The foundation partnered with advertising agency 360i and technology company Axios to create the initial Adaptoys prototypes, including a remote control car powered by a headset equipped with a straw, which allows users to exhale to make the car accelerate, and move their heads to the left and right to make the car change direction. The line also includes a voice-controlled pitching machine that throws a ball on the user’s command, tossing pop-ups, ground-balls, and strikes.
To bring these toys to more families nationwide, the foundation launched a crowdfunding campaign at Adaptoys.org to support the research, development, and production costs for at least 100 adapted remote control cars, which will be distributed to qualified recipients through a random lottery selection.
