Local students use STEAM project to adapt toys for kids with disabilities
Mar 26, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Some students at a metro middle school are finishing up a steam project to help kids with special needs. The project involves rewiring toys so those who struggle with fine motor skills can use them.
"It makes us feel good because we know that we're helping people and also w
e're doing something that's fun,” one of the students taking part in the project named Jack said.
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The students are fifth and sixth graders between the ages of 10 and 12 at Bell Isle Enterprise Middle School. They’re in the Odyssey Leadership class where they got into group to follow steps for a STEAM project where they rewire toys from working through small buttons, to a big one, so everyone can play with them.
"We have children that struggle with the fine motor skills so they don't have the ability to pinch their finger and thumb together,” teacher Sally Berry said.
Berry has been a teacher for 21 years and she’s been overseeing this class and project to help the kids through each step, if needed.
"They've had such a blast doing it,” she said.
Of course, it hasn’t come without some hiccups.
"It's kind of tricky,” a student named Aliyah said.
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"It's tricky to handle the wires and stripping the wire,” another student named Ma’laih said.
However, they’re adapting and overcoming to help those who need it.
"We are opening doors for those who cannot reach the handle, and so they are just thriving on their leadership skills and problem solving and just really trying to figure out what they can do to help their community out,” Berry said.
The students are wrapping up the project Thursday with plans to deliver the toys to two metro elementary schools on Friday. They also plan to visit Average Joe’s, which is a local employer for people of all abilities, so the students can experience real world situations. ...read more read less