Easterseals Disability and Community Services

Aired December 21, 2025: Lisa Foxx talks to Dr. Paula Pompa-Craven, Chief Clinical Officer, Autism Services, Easterseals Southern California about accessible toys that are great gifts for children with disabilities.                             Easterseals Disability & Community Services is a national non-profit organization providing essential disability, veteran, and community services for over 100 years, helping children and adults with disabilities, seniors, and their families achieve independence through programs like early childhood support, therapy, employment training, and adult day services. They offer local support across the U.S. and are known for their iconic Easter seal fundraising stamps....Easterseals has also created it first-of-its kind accessible toy guide for those with disabilities and they would love some support...    It’s every parent’s busiest time of year and Easterseals Disability Services is stepping up to support overwhelmed holiday shoppers with its Accessible Toy Guide for the 2025 Holidays. Finding accessible holiday gifts can be a challenge, so Easterseals created a first-of-its-kind resource designed to help families, educators, therapists and retailers identify toys that are not only fun but also inclusive and accessible.  The guide highlights some of 2025’s best accessible toys and games for children with disabilities and their families, encouraging play experiences that everyone can enjoy together.    TOY GUIDE:  essocal.com/toys    The Easterseals Toy Guide is designed to help families choose toys that can be enjoyed in different ways by children with diverse access needs and skills—without the need for special adaptation.  We define accessible toys and games as those that:  Are designed with consideration for users with various disabilities, including fine and gross motor coordination, sensory processing sensitivities, cognitive skills and blind, low vision, deaf and hard-of-hearing users.  Include features such as large buttons, textured surfaces, high-contrast colors, adjustable volume, alternative control mechanisms or adaptability for different play positions.  More information about choosing accessible toys below my signature.    Tips for Choosing Accessible Toys:  Easy-to-Use Features: Big buttons, textured parts, simple grips.  Multiple Ways to Play: Toys that light up, make sounds or can be used in different positions.  Movement Practice: Toys that build both gross-motor (balance, strength) and fine-motor (grasping, stacking) skills.  Social Play: Games that encourage interaction with peers or adults.  Flexible Design: Toys that can be adapted for different access needs .    Toy Submissions Were Reviewed for:  Tactile input  Accessibility for children with low vision or hearing  Sound features  Cause-and-effect elements  Motor demands  Sensory stimulation  Fine motor skill requirements  Overall appeal  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.