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EP ANNUAL TOY ISSUE
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EP ANNUAL TOY ISSUE
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Accessible art for people with disabilities comes in all shapes and sizes. Zot Artz, Arts for All, Inc. is centered on creating art opportunities for people with special needs. The company has created several toys that children can use from freestanding positions as well as with walkers and wheelchairs. The Zot Artz toy line gives "full body art" new meaning. The company also redefines the concept of making the whole world your canvas.
Zot Artz lists the benefits from its toys include improved mobility skills, coordination, creativity, expression and self-esteem. The only requirements are a space, hallway, driveway, classroom, gym or rec room and the desire to have your clients or students move, create and sparkle wide delight. The first toy we reviewed is the Little Chalk Drawer. First, the drawer is not "little." Three juicecan sized chalk receptacles fit into a round metal frame with wheels. The frame, wh.ch is about the size of a car's steering wheel, attaches to a walking handle or a wheelchair attachment so that kids can wheel the Chalk Drawer on concrete, asphalt and other surfaces. Our description does not do justice to the art that ambitious kids can produce with this unique toy. We could see the walking version of the toy being used as a device that helps kids improve their walking and gross motor skills and their balance. Kids who use wheelchairs also can improve gross and fine motor skills by maneuvering their wheelchairs and the Chalk Drawer to produce art. We also reviewed the Zot Artz Major Bubbles toy. Major Bubbles is a battery-powered bubbling blowing machine that fits on a metal apparatus that can be connected to wheelchairs or walkers. The machine spits out bubbles and fits of joy as kids walk or wheel forward. Both the Chalk Drawer and the Major Bubbles are sturdy, well-built toys. Zot Artz toys come with a 16-minute DVD that shows how to assemble and use each of their toys including the Chalk Drawer and Major Bubbles. The DVD is unique in that it does not try to explain the toys verbally. All demonstrations are with music but no words. We had no problem assembling or using our toys after viewing the DVD. Zot Artz products retail for $100 and up due to the cost of the structures that allow kids to manipulate the toys. Toys must be ordered directly from Zot Artz. People looking to make a major holiday or birthday for a child or looking to make a unique gift purchase for a child organization or classroom should consider Zot Artz toys. Zot Artz also has adaptable tools so that kids can use walkers, wheelchairs or body motion to paint murals, posters, banners and other large art pieces. These unique art products truly "offer individuals of all challenges an opportunity for creative expression through arts and mobility". We recommend that the reader visit the Zot Artz Website at www.zotartz.com October 2005 • EP MAGAZINE/wwvv.eparent.com |