When Noah Meyers saw toys set out on tables in the Rettner Hall atrium, he couldn鈥檛 resist wandering over to learn more.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 say no to being a kid again,鈥� he admits.
Next thing he knew, the University of Rochester sophomore was implanting a switch in a bright red Peek A Boo Elmo toy so it can be used by children with special needs at the University鈥檚 Golisano Children鈥檚 Hospital. The tables were set out as part of a workshop to teach students and other volunteers how to adapt the toys so that children with limited mobility can activate them on their own.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a really good cause,鈥� says Meyers, a mechanical engineering major from Pittsford, New York. 鈥淎nd not only to help the kids. It helps me. It helps the whole community. It鈥檚 giving back while having fun doing it.鈥�
Indeed, 鈥渋t鈥檚 hard not to smile while doing this,鈥� says Rachel Monfredo, a lecturer in chemical engineering at Rochester. Monfredo encouraged students to start a local Toys for All Tots initiative here after learning about the original program at Ohio State University鈥攁nd how adapted toys can be a strong motivation for children with special needs to develop other skills.
Staff members who work with the children at Golisano are excited about the project.
鈥淧laying with toys is an important part of childhood for all children; it makes them laugh and offers opportunities to interact with others and learn new skills,鈥� says Lorna Patanella, a pediatric nurse practitioner.
However, 鈥渇amilies often struggle with finding toys when their children cannot push the button to activate a toy,鈥� Patanella says. 鈥淎nd toys that are adapted to allow children to activate them with a 鈥榮witch鈥� are usually too expensive and not easily found in any stores.
鈥淚t is so heartwarming to see so many students taking their time to provide something as simple as a toy for these children.鈥�
Though still in its infancy, the Rochester initiative has already received a donation of 28 toys from Mattel Inc. Twenty-three toys have been adapted so far.
The adaptation process can be readily learned, Monfredo says; she has encouraged students from multiple disciplines to get involved.
Judging from the recent workshop, it does help to have a steady hand with a soldering iron.
鈥淎ctually, the hardest part is taking the toys apart in a way that we can put them together again,鈥� says Danielle Daniels, the director of diversity in STEM at the University鈥檚 David T. Kearns Center for Leadership and Diversity. 鈥淥nce you鈥檙e able to do that, it鈥檚 pretty straightforward.鈥�
Daniels, who worked as a mechanical engineer at Eastman Kodak and ITT before joining the University, said she was drawn to the workshop for the opportunity to 鈥渢ake things apart and put them back together鈥濃�攁nd because her own son has benefited from Golisano Hospital.
Wendi Heinzelman, dean of the Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, sees multiple benefits from the project. In addition to helping children with special needs, she says, the project gives students an opportunity to participate in community-engaged learning. It could also create opportunities for engineering students to develop less expensive, more efficient, or more complex switches as part of their senior design projects. And it鈥檚 a good example of how the University strives to engage with the Greater Rochester community.
鈥淭his is a wonderful project,鈥� she says.
