Reimagining Play: Build a TechToy with Me - Partnering with Parents for Children with Cerebral Palsy

Play is vital for children’s development, fostering cognitive, social, and linguistic growth while promoting independence and confidence. Yet, children with disabilities are often excluded from play, limiting their opportunities for development and enjoyment. In this multiple single case study, three families co-designed four toys and fourteen families (ten mothers, four fathers) evaluated the toys and associated toy website at six play sessions. All children had a motor disability (n = 11 cerebral palsy) and were 1 to 10+ years, most aged 1–2 years (n = 8). After toy testing, the parents completed a short user satisfaction survey (QUEST 2.0). The families reported a high satisfaction with the toys, scoring a xˉ = 3.92(SD 0.8)/five using the QUEST 2.0 questionnaire. The TechToy website, containing educational resources on how to switch adapt toys, ranked excellent with user satisfaction at xˉ = 79.0(SD 1.1)/100 and fostered a feeling of empowerment and learning. Five key themes emerged around the website evaluation: 1) decision support; 2) affordability; 3) accessibility; 4) personalisation; and 5) simplified educational tools. While preliminary, the study reveals that parents of children with motor disabilities require further support and resources when selecting and adapting accessible toys. Support and educational materials foster empowerment and mutual learning between families and researchers.