What inspired you to pursue a career as an Occupational Therapist & what was the key moment for you where you thought “Hang on, there’s a whole sector missing out here on vital play and learning” that led you to start the Switch Toy Family?
I was drawn to Occupational Therapy because it’s such a practical, person-centred, holistic profession — it’s about helping people participate in everyday life in ways that are meaningful to them.
It really hit me that there was a whole group of children missing out on play! Inclusive play isn’t just ‘nice’- it’s essential!!
I spent a lot of time at the Royal Children’s Hospital when my sister was very sick, and being exposed to children with many different diagnoses helped me develop a deep empathy and understanding of the challenges families face.
The key moment that led to [starting] Switch Toy Family came from working with children who clearly wanted to play but simply couldn’t access standard toys. I noticed that many children with physical disabilities, like Cerebral Palsy, often had active, curious minds but couldn’t engage with standard toys because of their limited hand function.
I’d see children light up when they realised they could make something happen with a switch. Pressing a button and seeing a toy move, light up, or make sound.
How long have you been operating your small business for? Do you adapt the toys yourself or have a team of experts / people behind you to help?
Switch Toy Family has been operating for around a year and I’m just a one woman team! I personally adapt all of the toys myself. Each toy takes time to be modified, tested, and trialled to ensure it works reliably with standard switches. My professional background guides how I adapt toys — not just so they function, but so they support cause-and-effect learning, independence, and engagement.
What has been one of the biggest challenges of having your own start-up business?
Time and costs are probably the biggest challenges. Switch Toy Family is something I work on alongside my full-time work and family life, and it takes time and commitment to adapt each toy. There are also costs involved, and this really isn’t something I see as a business.
It’s more of a side hobby for me — something I do because I genuinely enjoy it and care deeply about accessible play. Finding the balance between keeping toys as affordable as possible for families, while also covering the time and costs involved, can be quite difficult.
Even so, my focus remains on offering something meaningful in a way that feels manageable, sustainable, and true to why I started! I enjoy it!
What are your hopes for the future of Switch adapted toys and Switch Toy Family?
My hope is that more families in Australia and beyond become aware that accessible toys exist, and that children who can’t use standard toys don’t miss out on play.
Toys are essential for play because they help children learn, explore, and develop skills like cause-and-effect, problem-solving, creativity, and learning.
In places like the US, switch-adapted toys are more widely known, partly because of larger markets, therapy programs, and dedicated organizations promoting them. In Australia and Europe, awareness is still growing, which is why small businesses like Switch Toy Family can make a real difference.
I’d love to expand the range of toys in my store so more children can experience accessible play.
Even if the shop remains small, my focus will always be on bringing joy, independence, and inclusion to children’s lives — that’s what Switch Toy Family is all about.
Do you supply switch adapted toys to various healthcare providers and do you hope to in the future?
At the moment, Switch Toy Family is a small business, and I mainly provide toys directly to families. I don’t currently supply to healthcare providers or organisations, but I would love to in the future. Being able to connect with therapists, pediatricians, and other professionals would be a wonderful way to help even more children access switch-adapted play.
What has been your biggest selling item to date and why?
Musical and cause-and-effect toys tend to be the most popular, and the Fisher Price BeatBo toy has been a big favourite. Most orders come from the United States, although with recent changes to tariffs and international shipping, the situation is a little uncertain at the moment. There’s also interest within Australia, which really highlights how widespread the need for accessible play is.
Can you tell me about a time where you saw all of your hard work and educational studies come to fruition – either via your work in the OT space, clients, thank you emails received or a specific interaction with something you’ve sold in your online shop that has left a lasting impact on someone?
I’ve been so touched by the feedback I’ve received from families through my Etsy store and directly:
“My son will be very happy this Christmas with this beautifully adapted and educational toy. For the first time, he was able to press the switch himself and interact with a toy independently. Seeing him light up with excitement and confidence was amazing — it’s given him a whole new way to play.”
I also had a young client with a rare diagnosis whose toys needed adapting. After I adapted them, the family was incredibly appreciative — they even shared a photo of their little girl playing with her toys and explained why they were so important to her. Seeing her engage with the toys and knowing that my work helped make that possible brought me so much joy.
My OT background helps me know how children learn, play, and interact, but the heart of it is listening with empathy, and hearing families’ experiences.
One thing I’m really proud of is that each time a toy is sold, I make a donation supporting children with disabilities, with all contributions going directly to the Royal Children’s Hospital. This isn’t paid by the families who buy the toys — it’s fully covered by the business.
For every toy sold, I add $2 to my own donation, as a small way to give back and help more children access play.
If you would like to find out more about Switch Toy Family, you can visit their website here.
Marketing Officer
CPSN
