Omaha: 1.844.403.3131 | 402.401.3000
Lincoln: 1.800.676.5448 | 402.413.3000
Adaptive toys and devices for children with developmental and physical disabilities are available through the Tech Tots Lending Library, provided by Madonna in collaboration with United Cerebral Palsy.
Adaptive toys are useful in developing a variety of skills:
Gross | Fine Motor | Cognition | Language | Social (graphic?)
The Tech Tots library is open to the community. Parents and children can visit the library to explore and decide which toys, which are useful in therapy sessions, at home and at school, best suit the child. Parents, teachers and therapists are able to borrow a wide variety of toys for a small cleaning fee.
Call 402.413.3676 to find out how you can use the Tech Tots Lending Library.
Communication Devices
Tech Tots has a variety of low-tech communication devices to trial. Some of the devices require only 2 pictures, while some allow up to 4. Furthermore, one of the devices allows one to put a 3-dimensional object near the button for those who have difficulty with abstract concepts. An environmental control unit is also available to trial.
Early Childhood Toys
Providing children with the right experiences through the right toys is key to development for children 0 to 3 years old. Tech Tots offers a number of toys focusing on early childhood development, some of which have easy access buttons for those with physical impairments.
Gross Motor Toys
Gross motor toys available range from therapy balls and theraband (for strengthening) to a sit-n-spin. An indoor trapeze bar is also available for mounting between door frames.
Plush Toys
The plush toys that Tech Tots offers are the “Tickle Me Elmo,” “Tickle Me Ernie,” “Tickle Me Big Bird” and “Tickle Me Cookie Monster.” These particular toys offer vibratory stimulation with very little pressure required from the user. A vibrating “Sponge Bob Squarepants” is also available.
Sensory Toys
Tech Tots offers a wide variety of sensory toys that require very little movement or pressure to activate, but result in lights, sounds, and vibration. These toys are often very expensive to purchase on one’s own, and thus the user has a unique opportunity to access a multitude of sensory toys that are pleasing to the eyes, ears and touch.
Fine Motor Toys
Some children need assistance with the development of fine motor skills. Tech Tots offers a variety of different styles of puzzles and games to work on these skills for children of all
Ages.
Switches and Switch-Activated Toys
Switch toys are intended for children with poor muscle tone and poor control of movements. They are toys that have been adapted, and thus require a special button to activate them. A variety of switches are available from those that require hardly any movement at all, to switches with large plates for those who need a larger target to access. A number of motivating toys are also available to plug into the different types of switches.
Fine Motor Toys
Some children need assistance with the development of fine motor skills. Tech Tots offers a variety of different styles of puzzles and games to work on these skills for children of all ages.