When my daughter began receiving early intervention therapy in 2018, I was surprised to discover that many of the “tools” used by developmental specialists were not specialized medical devices, but ordinary from mainstream brands (think Fisher Price, Melissa & Doug).

What made the toys valuable was not that they were designed for “special needs” children, but that therapists viewed them through a developmental lens—one that could benefit any child.

In 2020, I reached out to a Wirecutter editor to see if I could bring that perspective to their product guides and help make information too often confined to doctors’ and therapists’ offices available to millions of readers.

Since then, I’ve become a regular contributor—something I count among my proudest journalistic achievements as a longtime Wirecutter reader and fan!

Over the years, I’ve also worked to broaden the language and frameworks used in Wirecutter’s product recommendations to be more inclusive of kids with disabilities, particularly when it comes to recommended uses and age ranges.

The Best Dolls
Dolls can be a powerful tool for broadening a child’s notion of what — really, who — is familiar and “acceptable.”

Parents Cross The Street To Ask Me About This Stroller
When kids with disabilities grow too big to fit in a standard stroller, parents encounter a maddeningly empty marketplace in which it is difficult to find even one acceptable option.

These First Toys For Kids With Disabilities Have Universal Appeal
After dozens of appointments with specialists; hundreds of hours in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy; and seven years of trial and error, I’m sharing some favorite toys, games, and gear.