Adaptive Tech Club

Ilana Z. '26

At Adaptive Tech Club (ATC) we work to enhance old technology and create new technology to provide access to education and fun for differently abled children by reducing or negating the costs of many products and creating new products that fit the exact needs of local special education programs. A main way that we do this is by taking apart and changing the circuitry of electric toys to make them accessible with an external, larger and more versatile, button. This is called adapting a toy and so far, in our first year as a club, we have adapted over 200 toys. I created the club after my sophomore year, when I had begun my work with Oakland’s Special Ed Department through an independent study where, among other things, I adapted over 100 toys. I realized that there was a huge need for these adapted toys and other simple tech solutions and that the skill set (mainly soldering) and interests necessary to adapt these toys is abundant at LWHS so I created a club that could expand and continue my work. I personally do this work with ATC because it is both super fun and super fulfilling. First, I really enjoy and have learned a ton from taking apart toys and designing products to fit these niche needs. Second, every time that I have been able to visit a classroom or deliver a creation in person, I am so happy to see the joy on the kids and teachers faces and to hear the stories of how the products that I created have genuinely made an impact on the lives of these children.