Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

University Students Build High-Tech Toys For Disabled Kids

Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.
University of North Florida
/
The Florida Channel
Leon County Judge John Cooper on June 30, 2022, in a screen grab from The Florida Channel.

At the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, engineering and physical therapy students are converting drivable toy cars from store shelves into custom-made fun for disabled children.

The Adaptive Toy program has received a 5-year grant from the National Institutes of Health and is helping families with disabled children while giving the students a dose of community service that will stick with them long after graduation.

The parents of 4-year-old Scarlett Wilgis, who has cerebral palsy, say they've had a hard time finding toys that she can play with.

Scarlett received a toy car with a large push button that replaced the steering wheel and light sensors mounted underneath the car will allow it to follow a line of tape along the floor.

Doctors say the toy will give Scarlett a new mobility, and help her become more independent.