This year’s Christmas Adapt-A-Thon was a fantastic success for the children of Florida who use switches to control their toys and devices!

Our hosts, GRA-V (FRC #5816) provided a the fabulous Motion Capture studio in the Launch Site at Orange Technical College as our venue as well as high-end soldering stations, power, tools and more.

Robotics teams and STEM clubs from high schools and universities around the state gathered to adapt toys and make custom AT solutions for children with diverse challenges in our local schools and support organizations.

Thank you to all the groups who came out to work with us on the great event:

“Check out the focus and engagement on the faces of these kids! They stayed completely on-task and worked their tails off for 8 solid hours–we couldn’t be more proud of what they’ve accomplished!”
-Bill Binko, Founder

• GRA-V FRC Team FRC Team 5816 (our hosts!)
• Roaring Riptide FRC Team 4118 
• Royal Robotics FRC Team 5842
• Super 7 FTC Team 7477
• Exploding Bacon FRC Team 1902
• UF Women in Electrical and Computer Engineering (WECE)
• UF Building Others Through STEM (BOTS)
• UF Generational Relief in Prosthetics (GRiP)
• Team Krunch (FRC #79)
• University of Central Florida Communication Science Disorders
• Raytheon Corporate Outreach

And a huge thank you to LessonPix Custom Learning Materials, our sole corporate sponsor of this event. Without their continued support, this event and others like it would not be possible.

By the Numbers:

• Student Makers: 104
• Robotics Teams (FRC and FTC): 6
• College Organizations: 4
• Toys Adapted: 136 (+11 “partials” and 3 “butchered”)
• 3D Printed Switches Made: 98

Benefits

Adapted Toys are the first step in expanding the worlds of children with severe motor and other disabilities.  Once a child learns they can control a motivating toy, they can often expand that to controlling their environment, using a communication device, and taking ownership and control of their lives.  These toys will help children in:

• Aphasia House at UCF
• FAAST UCF RDC
• Pinellas County Public Schools
• Pasco County Public Schools
• Alachua County Public Schools
• and private individuals across Florida

A second, but just as important benefit is to the teens who make these devices possible.  They get to be involved in a project that directly impacts children in their community, use the skills that they’ve learned in their competitions and clubs, and spend an exhausting, challenging day working with their peers towards a common goal.

“Check out the focus and engagement on the faces of these kids!  They stayed completely on-task and worked their tails off for 8 solid hours–we couldn’t be more proud of what they’ve accomplished!”  -Bill Binko, Founder

Check out the amazing photos of the event!