Site of the Day: Adaptive Toys

Are you, or is someone you know, a do-it-yourself-er? Then this site by an electrical engineer whose love of tinkering has led him to adapt toys for kids with special needs will be a useful how-to for you. Brad Whaley writes that "as long the toy works off of batteries, there is a 99 percent chance that a switch can be hooked up so a handicapped / disabled child can use it." And he provides the instructions for doing just that.

Among the toys with specific adaptation instructions are a Bob the Builder jackhammer, a Power Wheels electric car, a Blue's Clues Magenta vibrating toy, and an automated toy helicopter. A FAQ and other articles share knowledge needed for adapting other battery-powered playthings. For the faint of heart, there are links for pre-made switches and pre-adapted toys, too.