About Us

Switched Adapted Toys was founded in 2018 by Dana Chole, PT, DPT, PCS, Rachel Hughes, PT, DPT, and Eric Chole. Dana and Rachel, both practicing physical therapists, understood the profound impact of inclusive play on children’s cognitive and physical development. They frequently used switch-adapted toys in therapy sessions to help children with disabilities engage in play more independently.

One day, when an adapted toy at their clinic broke, Rachel took it upon herself to repair it. With limited resources available online, she successfully fixed the toy—leading to a powerful realization: adapting toys was simple and accessible with the right guidance.

Excited by this discovery, Dana, Rachel, and Eric began adapting toys for children at their clinic. A few months later, they partnered with Pascal’s Pals, a local nonprofit that provides toys and gifts to children undergoing long-term hospital stays in Mid-Missouri. With Pascal’s Pals’ support, the first-ever Switched Chapter was born.

From there, the mission expanded. The team organized volunteer build days, recruiting community members to help adapt toys for children in need. Each Christmas, hundreds of adapted toys are donated free of charge to families who need them most.

Teaching volunteers to modify toys was a challenge, so Eric began producing step-by-step how-to videos and manualsto make the process easier. Over time, their instructional resources grew, and they started sharing them on YouTube, helping thousands of people worldwide learn how to adapt toys on their own.

What began as a small side project continued to gain momentum, reaching more families, therapists, and educators. In 2024, Switched Adapted Toys officially became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Our Mission Today

Switched Adapted Toys is dedicated to making play accessible for all children by:

  • Providing free resources to help families and therapists adapt toys themselves
  • Manufacturing and selling 3D-printed adaptive solutions, such as our custom switch buttons
  • Supporting new Switched Chapters worldwide, empowering communities to build and distribute adapted toys
  • Operating an adapted toy shop for those who prefer to purchase professionally modified toys

At Switched Adapted Toys, we believe every child deserves the joy of play. Whether through volunteer build days, educational content, or innovative new solutions, we are committed to breaking barriers and ensuring that all children have access to play—no matter their abilities.

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