On Wednesday, December 3rd, the John McGivney School Authority hosted an event in partnership with the GECDSB where roughly 30 families received accessible, adapted toys designed for children with physical disabilities.

All toys were donated by the Kingsville Optimist Club, which has supported the event for the past three years.

The adaptations were completed by Greater Essex County District School Board students in the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program, who applied their technical training to rewire each electronic toy and add components that make them switch-accessible.

The GECDSB team also designed and 3D-printed custom switches to accompany every toy, ensuring each one was tailored for ease of use.

Families who attended were also able to meet with Occupational Therapists from the John McGivney Children’s Centre and a Communicative Disorders Assistant from the John McGivney School Authority. These professionals provided suggestions on how to make play meaningful and accessible and offered resources to help support communication and engagement at home.

Organizers noted that the event effectively combined community donations, student technical skills, and professional expertise to meet a practical need for families.

Plans are already being discussed to continue building on the initiative in the coming years.