Play is one of the essential joys of childhood and is the way children learn about themselves, their environment and the people around them. Children learn to function in the world around them by observing and imitating the actions of others. Most children use sight to help them gain a great deal of information quickly and with little effort. Children whose vision is impaired need direction to learn about the people, places and things in their environment - and to learn how to play.
Toys present a great opportunity to do so.
This guide has been developed to assist parents and caregivers in choosing appropriate toys that enhance the quality of play for children who are blind or visually impaired. By examining the types of toys suggested, a new world of play can be discovered. The toys in this guide have been selected by the American Foundation for the Blind for their interest to children who are blind or visually impaired - including those with special needs who have additional disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, cognitive impairments or developmental disabilities. They are also useful for adults who are blind or visually impaired who want to play with the children in their lives. Children with visual impairments, their friends and teachers, child development specialists, and experts on product evaluation formed the panel that selected these commercially available toys.