May 23, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.(WVLT) -- The dozens of toys at the East Tennessee Technology Center Christmas party are those you would see on the shelves at Walmart or any department store.
But these are different, they've been specially adapted to be used by children with disabilities.
Louis Symington, the Executive Director of ETTAC said the toys are reworked by local students and adults who give of their time.
"We have volunteers that go in and rewire a toy so it can be activated with a chin, or an elbow or a toe, or an eye blink or whatever muscle on a person works, can be used to operated a toy or run a computer or turn on the world."
Bionic toys if you will.
It all started in September culminating in this one event and it's made quite the impression, like Sarah Woodruff who brought her daughter Kathryn.
"It has an adaptive thing and she has a switch at home and it just plays into this, and when she hits that switch, then her monkey will dance and sing."
Louis added, "It's a big deal for us, we have probably 100-ish kids coming and if it were not for this party and the volunteers and the people who donate the toys these kids would be watching other kids play with toys at Christmas."
No matter the race, color, boy, girl, disabled or not, a parent knows the look of joy on a child's face.
They certainly saw it here.
