Avon Lake Groups Help Design Toys For Special Needs Children

AVON LAKE, OH - After much of Greater Cleveland, decked out in ceremonial green, was partying Friday away, a group of dedicated Avon Lake residents trekked to the Avon Lake Public Library on Saturday for a very special workshop. RePlay for Kids, a non-profit that re-engineers toys for children with learning disabilities, hosted a workshop March 18 and the residents didn't want to miss it.

About 16 people gathered at the library to learn how to solder a new switch for toys like remote control cars and Tickle Me Elmos. The goal being to simplify toys for special needs children and making the toys a communication tool for therapists and parents.

"We teach everyone how to make a simple switch. We had the Avon Lake Key kids and the Avon Lake Kiwanis. Some attendees had electronic experience and some had none. It’s great because it’s a good bonding moment for the Kiwanis and Key Club," said Natalie Wardega, director of operations for RePlay. "We teach them how to make the switches and then we teach them how adapt the toys."

All of the toys the group refined were taken to RePlay's storage facility where they will wait for the end of 2017. In early December, the organization will invite therapists, families, and some community groups to come to the storage room and allow them to go holiday shopping for free.

"The experience was very positive and everybody had fun. I think it scratches the inner curiosity that we all have as a kid; "Can I open this toy up and see how it works?" said Joon Yub Kim, a Kiwanian who took part in the event at Avon Lake.

Last year, RePlay gave away about 1,500 toys. They're aiming to hit the same number this year, Wardega told Patch.

The organization does a variety of workshops, including the one held in Avon Lake. Beyond teaching soldering to groups like Kiwanis, RePlay also works with local universities and has engineering students come in and work on their own toys or repair the toys that weren't quite refined by novices at other workshops.

RePlay has also started doing family workshops, where parents or guardians can learn how to solder toys for their child.

The organization hosts about 130 workshops throughout the year. That's big growth for an organization that started with a handful of workshops in 1999. Now the group can build 1,500 toys and provide those to agencies and families.

You can learn about other upcoming RePlay for Kids events by clicking here. There is also an informational video about the group below.

Photo from Russell Henderson
Caption: Kiwanian Joon Yub Kim