By Lauren Carnahan
Vanderbilt’s TOM (Tikkun Olam Makers) chapter hosted its second annual Toy Adaptation event, bringing together students to modify toys and make playtime more accessible for children with physical disabilities. Held at the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s Innovation Center, this year’s event expanded from its original focus on plush toys to include both plush and plastic toys.
By the end of the day, nearly 50 switch-adapted toys were ready to be donated to local organizations, including the Susan Gray School, which serves children of all abilities, and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Each toy was adapted to work with external switches, allowing children with limited hand dexterity to activate lights, sounds, and movement with ease.
In addition to creating accessible toys, the event gave Vanderbilt students the opportunity to build their technical skills.
“Not only is the Toy Adaptation event great for connecting with the community, it also helps younger students improve their ‘making’ skills and become comfortable working in the Wond’ry Makerspaces,” shared Tessa Mahoney, a second-year mechanical engineering student and Co-President of TOM Vanderbilt. “Many freshmen and sophomores have little to no experience soldering, drilling, or working with circuits. This day helps students learn new skills and make a positive impact.”
Throughout the day, TOM’s leadership team guided participants step-by-step through the adaptation process. Beginners practiced techniques like soldering and hand sewing, while more advanced makers worked with circuit boards and tackled problem-solving challenges. They were supported by the Wond’ry, which provided space and tools for the event, and by Dr. David Florian, Professor of the Practice in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Tech Lead of the Vanderbilt Digital Fabrication Lab, who supplied additional soldering equipment.
“My favorite thing about TOM is how hands-on it is,” said Chloe Park, a first-year engineering student and TOM Public Relations Chair. “Not only do I feel like I’m making a positive impact, but I can also see that impact through talking and collaborating with Need-Knowers. In addition, I personally love all things crafting, so prototyping and adapting toys is great fun to me.”
The Toy Adaptation event also serves as an entry point into TOM’s larger programs, including its signature Makeathon—a multi-day design challenge that pairs students with community members to co-create solutions for people with disabilities.
“Personally, I like the Toy Adaptation because it leaves a positive impact but is more condensed, so it can be a great sample of what to expect in the more time-intensive Makeathon,” added Chloe. “Also, since everyone is working on somewhat similar things, it’s a great way to meet a lot of new people!”
For Elizabeth Walther, a third-year mechanical engineering student and Co-President of TOM, all TOM events are about the lasting effect.
“The event is much shorter than a Makeathon, but the results make just as big of an impact. Each toy is switch-adapted to allow a child with hand dexterity difficulties the opportunity to play. By the end of the event, we had around 50 toys lighting up and singing, ready to be donated to kids who may not have had the opportunity to interact with these toys.”
To learn more about TOM, and how you can get involved, follow their instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanderbilt_tom/?hl=en
Contact: brenda.ellis@vanderblt.edu