I’m legally blind and looking back, I can say that my impairment probably had a bit to do with what toys I played with. I was never into books or work books with activities in them. I also wasn’t into board games or legos because I couldn’t read the print on any of them. My favorite thing was stuffed animals (still is lol) but I especially loved ones that had beans in them. I love the sound they make and also their texture and weight. I HATED toys that moved or spoke. They weren’t cuddly and they were boring and fake. I also like larger toys 1) because they’re easier to hug and play with, but 2) they’re easier to see so I can appreciate them more.

So I am a totally blind man born in the 90s. So one of the toys I had was a sound matching game called Henry, and you had to connect sounds four in a line to win, or you played against the computer, or you had to complete the grid of 16 squares.

I also loved BopIt and that's the primary game I think of when it comes to accessability, I had the BopIt and BopIt Xtreme, and then there was one similar called Torx.

As to other tactile toys I had some puzzles with large pieces. I loved playing with the Legos but only the ones with dots on them, not to build anything particular, just towers or "machines" by making towers with tunnels and window holes in them. I would even pretend I was making Braille with the Legos.

, I had a few books with sound in them, and I had a few balls that beeped at you.

My son was obsessed with Bopits. All of them except Bopit Tetris. He liked them because they have verbal instructions, music, and different textures.

In my experience, a lot if VI children have tactile sensitivity. Anything that could help them get over that in an early stage and is fun would be really helpful. Squishy, soft, hard, rough, smooth, slimy, sandy, ridges, etc.

I think you'd have a great toy if you combined all that. Kind of like a Bopit on steroids.

BTW, he still has like 7 of them and he's 18!

Oh - any game or toy that would help kids learn mobility and orientation. Not sure what that could be...

I played with toys like any other kid I just did regular toys my parents didn’t treat me any different then john or sam. Okay yes and no but inn toys no. I just built my own designs and my own stuff with legos not the most creative kid but I didn’t need or want instructions.even today most of the instructions a go in the trash or put away there’s a few things I do read but generally not.

Most of how I played with toys is more particular to my personality.

I was a technical kid and tinkered and investigated toys if I was able I’d probably break or take the toy apart to investigate what is inside. I would figure out what I could do with the toy and methods to play with it, I guess you can call it kid’s version of tinkering especially more complex things. Or different ways to play the game or with the toy.

You may guess it or have a hint I am a very hands on type of person. I joke that I crashed my computer to learn it. All that turned in to tinkering with tech, tinkering with audio equipment, and technical fascinations. I was pretty handy with legos actually. I liked to build a triangular wall type thing I would pretend to build tables and chairs and sofas too. Haha! Never got in to lego instructions to build a house or whatever.

Can you find a way to make something like Legos for the visually impaired? For instance, making textured blocks and audio descriptions of the assembly instructions.

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