HuskyADAPT

Project Overview

Difficulty processing sensory information is a common manifestation of children with ASD. Additionally, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many children with ASD aren't receiving the same amount of sensory therapy that they would have access to in education or social settings. Our toy seeks to aid the sensory processing abilities of children with ASD during this time when regular access to sensory therapy is limited. Our mission is to create an interactive toy that facilitates sensory stimulation and leads to an educational outcome in a child with ASD through multiple kinds of materials, tactile experiences, and stimulating multiple senses, all while being careful to avoid sensory overload.

"How can we build a toy that incorporates sensory integration therapy (SIT) for a young child with ASD?"

Research

To conduct our research, we used several methods to understand who our users are, their preferences, and the pain points they experience with other toys. We conducted a survey through Google Forms, conducted a competitive analysis of the toy market, and analyzed data from public forums discussing toys that are helpful and harmful for children with ASD.

During our ideation process, the team collaborated to understand the most important problems to solve. Next, we developed our ideations and created sketches to bring our concepts to life. One sentiment we continuously discovered during our research was that toys designed for children with ASD are not one size fits all. Each child could have a different reaction to the same sensory stimulation, so we have to carefully navigate our design features so we don't cause overstimulation, but we can create a toy that many children can play with.

From there, we established our design requirements and began to focus on the features we wanted to prototype and test.

Initial Ideation Features

CUSTOMIZABLE SYSTEM

Panels have one sensory tool each. The panels attach together to create larger toys. Children can buy multiple panels to customize their toy based on their sensory needs. They can also swap panels with friends promoting social interaction.

sketch showing how two panels attach to each other

GEL/PUTTY

Gel and putty can have calming effects because of their soft malleable texture.

LEGOS

Allows child to build with their hands, and use their imagination to create something unique.

MAGNET BOARD

Using a magnet board we are creating a panel with different shapes where each child can build their own characters.

TANGLES

Tangles come in a variety of soft textures, and their interchangeable system allows for the child to use their dexterity to manipulate the tangles into different shapes.