TOM: Pittsburgh Hack The Toy 2025

Did you know that children with disabilities can struggle to play with most toys that are commercially available? For many, a simple squirt gun or a video game controller is out of reach—until now.

This year, the TOM:Pittsburgh “Hack the Toy” 2025 event became a powerful example of what’s possible when community, compassion, and creativity come together. In a groundbreaking collaboration, students and TOM Fellows from Duquesne University, University of Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Mellon University joined forces to build real solutions for real children—and the results were nothing short of inspiring.

"When we hack a toy, we don’t just rewire plastic—we rewire possibility."

Powered by Collaboration: 3 Universities, One Mission

TOM:Pittsburgh’s event wasn’t just a workshop—it was a mission-driven alliance of minds and hearts. Engineers, therapists, designers, and volunteers worked side-by-side to adapt everyday toys into accessible tools for play.

Together, these incredible teams created:

• 30+ switch-adapted squirt guns

• 50+ custom-built adaptive controllers

• Supporting over 50 children in the Pittsburgh area

This effort was supported by the 412 Ability Tech Ecosystem, reinforcing the shared belief that play should never be a privilege—it should be a right.

🧸 Why Adaptive Toys Matter

Here’s something that might surprise you:

"A single switch-adapted toy can cost $70 or more.That’s often unaffordable for families already navigating the costs of specialized care."

But the problem isn’t just price—it’s access. Off-the-shelf toys rarely work for children who use assistive switches, and adapting them requires time, skill, and support. That’s why events like Hack the Toy are vital.

Each toy delivered at Hack the Toy was modified to work with assistive switches—giving kids a chance to press, play, splash, laugh, and engage independently.

🎁 From Tech to Joy: The Real Impact

This wasn’t a one-day hackathon. It was a community celebration—a reminder that play is a developmental need, not a luxury. Every child who received an adapted toy went home with more than a device. They left with:

• A sense of empowerment

• Tools for motor skill development

• And a whole lot of joy

Toys are often a child’s first tools for learning. Thanks to the students, therapists, and makers at Hack the Toy 2025, dozens of children will experience play in new, life-changing ways.

🙌 Thank You, TOM: Pittsburgh fellows!

To everyone who helped organize, support, volunteer, and cheer: Thank you.Your work this year helped open the door to more inclusive playrooms, schools, and futures.

Want to see the magic for yourself? 📸Share the story, spread the mission, and help us continue building a world where no child is left out of the fun.

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