Website Makes Holiday Shopping Less Stressful for Parents of Children with Disabilities

Dec. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- The Holiday Season is upon us and soon toy stores will be inundated with parents and family members who are on a mission to find the perfect toy for their children or grandchildren.  
Choosing the perfect toy can be a daunting experience.  Parents and family members venturing up and down the crowded aisles of toy stores can easily become overwhelmed by the vast amount of choices with which they are presented. Trying to decide whether or not a specific toy is age appropriate or has the right amount of bells and whistles is enough to send some parents running out of the store.  

Now imagine a parent or family member who is looking for the perfect toy for a child with a disability.  Their toy-shopping experience becomes even more daunting as they are faced with another challenge to overcome—not only do they have to choose the right toys that will bring joy to their child, they also have to find toys that will accommodate their special needs.  
There are thousands of choices but finding just the right toy to match the varying abilities of each child with special needs can be a challenge.

Here’s some new ways to look at toys and play products:

1.   Do they match the cognitive abilities of my child?  

2.   Does this product align with my child’s sensory-stimulation needs? Does it trigger overload or does it help create positive sensations?

3.   Will this play product help develop my child’s communications skills or is it beyond his or her current abilities?

4.   Can my child play with this product based on their physical limitations or needs?

5.   Are there any elements to this toy that can be easily altered to make it more accessible for my child?

6.   Are there skill levels that my child can meet in the game or toy and then move up to as they progress?

7.   Will this toy or play product allow my child to connect better with friends, siblings or other family members in an inclusive way?

Enter Ableplay.org (http://www.ableplay.org ), a toy rating system and website that provides comprehensive information on toys for children with disabilities so parents, special educators, therapist and others can make the best choices for the children in their lives with disabilities.

Developed by the National Lekotek Center, the leading nonprofit authority on play for children with disabilities, AblePlay provides parents, and professionals access to the most useful, product-specific information about the top play and learning products and toys for children with disabilities at www.ableplay.org.