Abstract
Children with mobility disabilities are often excluded from mainstream toy design,
highlighting a broader failure of the toy industry to prioritize accessibility and inclusive
innovation. My capstone project, JoyLab, was developed to address this gap by creating an
interactive, customizable toy system designed through collaboration with caregivers and
therapists. The purpose of this project was to demonstrate how co-design methodologies can
lead to more accessible and engaging technologies for children with disabilities. My STS
research paper explores how sociotechnical systems within the toy industry marginalize
children with mobility disabilities, particularly those with conditions such as cerebral palsy.
The paper investigates the importance of user-centered and participatory design approaches in
addressing these systemic barriers and improving learning and interaction outcomes.
Together, the technical and STS components are closely connected, as JoyLab serves as a
practical implementation of the theories discussed in the STS research. While the STS paper
critiques existing industry structures, the capstone project demonstrates how co-designed
technologies can challenge these systems and promote more inclusive and accessible toy
design.
JoyLab is a multi-sensory, multi-component toy designed to address the lack of
accessible and adaptable toys for children with mobility disabilities. The project was
developed through a co-design process with a local Charlottesville family whose son has
cerebral palsy, using their feedback to identify gaps in existing products and guide design
decisions. The system emphasizes customization, allowing users to modify modes, sensory
feedback, and stimuli to align with each child’s specific learning and interaction needs.
The project concludes that incorporating users directly into the design process leads to
technologies that are better aligned with their needs and significantly improve usability.
JoyLab demonstrates that co-design not only enhances functionality but also promotes
accessibility by creating toys that are more responsive to diverse abilities. Overall, the project
highlights the importance of user involvement in developing inclusive technologies for the
toy market.
My STS research paper asks: how do sociotechnical systems within the toy industry
marginalize children with mobility disabilities, and how might inclusive, co-designed
technologies challenge these norms? This question is significant because it highlights how
existing design practices often exclude children with disabilities, limiting their opportunities
for play, learning, and development. To address this, I use a sociotechnical systems
framework alongside inclusive design theory, drawing on academic literature, case studies of
mainstream toy production, and field research from the JoyLab co-design process with
caregivers and therapists.
The paper draws on evidence from inclusive design literature, case studies of
mainstream toy manufacturers, and insights from the JoyLab co-design process to show how
current industry practices prioritize standardization over accessibility. The results
demonstrate that these sociotechnical systems systematically exclude children with mobility
disabilities by failing to incorporate diverse user needs into the design process. Ultimately,
the paper concludes that adopting co-design and user-centered approaches can challenge
these norms, leading to more inclusive technologies that better support learning and
interaction for children with disabilities.
