Bay Area Disability Network

Archived Parenting Reviews and Recommendations

(also see Parenting Advice)

Book Recommendation

Toys

Book Recommendation

• As the parent of two kids, one with a disability and one without, I've always been concerned about how my non-disabled kid seems to get shortchanged a lot. He does fine, but I think sometimes he feels like his brother sucks up a lot of time and attention. I just came across a really good book: 'The Sibling Slam Book: What it is really like to have a brother or sister with special needs! ’Despite the 'special needs' in the title, it's pretty interesting. The kids stories are pretty diverse, and their opinions go from totally positive to completely negative. A pretty interesting read. You can read more about it (and order it) at www.woodbinehouse.com/main.asp_Q_product_id_E_1-890627-52-6 \

Toys
My eight year old grandson has cerebral palsy, I want to get him a toy for his birthday that he can use with his Big Red switch but the switch toys are pretty dull. Do you know where I can get a really fun toy that is switch operated?

• A lot of the switch operated toys are boring, but you can actually adapt most toys to make them switch operated. It's not that hard. Pretty much any battery operated toy can be modified. You have to put a contact against the battery with a wire that runs to the switch. I took a class several years ago from the Center for Accessible Technology that taught me how to do this - try calling them at 510 841-3224.