HuskyADAPT

HuskyADAPT (Accessible Design and Play Technology) is a student organization at the University of Washington whose mission is to foster an inclusive, sustainable, and multidisciplinary community supporting accessible design and play technology. Currently in our second year as an organization, we have adapted over 300 toys, trained 200 students and community members how to adapt toys, and donated over 150 toys to the Seattle community. In the upcoming years we hope to continue expanding our efforts in Washington by bringing toy adaptation into clinics, schools, and non-profits in the area and donating adapted toys free of charge to ensure that every child has the opportunity to play.

At HuskyADAPT, we believe that every child has the right to play. Unfortunately, many off-the-shelf toys are not designed with every child in mind. To overcome this accessibility challenge, we run toy adaptation events. These events involve adapting battery-powered toys by installing a universal headphone jack into the existing circuitry. This allows for the toy to be activated using an alternative switch that better meets the needs of the child. HuskyADAPT's toy adaptation efforts provide a unique opportunity to 1) teach individuals technical skills such as soldering and tool usage, 2) explain complex concepts such as circuitry and the design process in a tangible way, 3) create a platform for individuals from diverse educational backgrounds to interact and discuss social justice issues affecting our community, and 4) impact our Seattle community by increasing access to accessible and developmentally important toys.