Suggestions of toys and Alexa apps for blind child

[ForeverAndEverCheese]

My niece is 15 but, because of a brain tumour and the treatment needed to save her life, she is intellectually and emotionally around 8-yrs old, and also totally blind. She’s also autistic and struggles to embrace new things!

She’s bored a lot of the time. She can’t read or colour or anything, and although we modify jigsaws for her - literally just add braille numbers and she just finds and joins them - there isn’t a lot she can do by herself. She loves music and singing, and is learning the piano, but isn’t that advanced.

Do you have any suggestions of games that she might enjoy or that could be modified? She has braille uno and cards, plus braille monopoly.

Ideally looking for things she could do alone, or after being set-up. Does anybody have an ideas of things that she could do on Alexa? Are there easy karaoke or song tuition programmes? Any straightforward ‘pick your own adventure” stories? Anything like that that would entertain her for a bit.

Thanks in advance. All ideas appreciated!

Would she like braile bricks? Lego bricks for people with vi! She might enjoy play dough, add scents for additional sensory feedback. Or puffy paint so she can feel it once she has done a picture?

Is there a toy library locally? They should have sensory and inclusive activities.
RNIB lend out sensory books and have audio books

https://www.rnib.org.uk/search/?query=Children%E2%80%99s+books#search-results-title

A Tonie might be a good idea. Lots of characters available and also new cuddly ones and a creative element where you can record stories

https://tonies.com/en-gb/creative/

Lots of construction toys would be suitable Stickle Bricks, plastic link chain toys etc
Sensory fidget toys that pop, bubblewrap is also satisfying

Bop it toy

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hasbro-B0639000-Bop-Micro-Game/dp/B00N4ONUCE/ref=asc_df_B00N4ONUCE?mcid=2a41f30d34193f508db32a909c6a974d&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696350735943&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=574681368859451840&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9195089&hvtargid=pla-442326471828&psc=1&hvocijid=574681368859451840-B00N4ONUCE-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

There should be a service that will assess and provide adaptive technology locally
Look on the SEN local offer for services

AsPP suggests dough is a good idea buy sensory dough/ putty or make your own. You will find recipes online.
Lots of craft activities can be adapted with textured paper or card and punch style shape cutters.

Alexa has a daily Harry Potter quiz if that floats her boat.

I had a blind Cub once who had smelly felt pens for colouring.

https://shopping.mattel.com/en-gb/products/barbie-fashionistas-doll-wearing-pastel-outfit-with-cane-and-sunglasses-hrh17-en-gb

How about a Barbie? My VI cousin suggested this.

You can ask Alexa to play games, it does a guess the tune game, make stupid sounds (it farts for instance), it can play cat sounds (that confuses my cats).

You just say "Alexa what games can I play" and she'll give you a recommendation.

I've just asked her where Santa is and apparently he's on Do Not Disturb.

not quite a toy, but I know a blind teen (with learning difficulties) who has a microwave with braille on the buttons and learnt to cook things like mug cake and fridge cake. which he found fun and has a big sense of achievement. it does need quite a lot of teaching to use it safely.

Thanks. Good idea. She does have some which she uses to write messages to people. Lays them out, photographs and sends. She doesn’t really do imaginative or creative play, however, so when her message is written, she’s done.

She’d love this but she has hyperphagia (essentially an unquenchable hunger) and has ended up hugely obese, so she can’t be around food except at mealtimes.

She wouldn’t like it as she has never done creative play, but this is perfect for her younger sister. Thank you!

Thanks. She hasn’t really progressed to Harry Potter but her little sister might enjoy that.

she does colouring but only for a few minutes as she really has no sight at all so it doesn’t offer much back.

A Toniebox and Tonies? Very easy to use independently and the Tonie figure shapes all feel different.

Play doh or any modelling clay might be better than colouring? There are lots of good clays and she could also add beads or sequins on a flat clay sheet to get pictures and textures

Any ideas here?

How about something musical? A xylophone or keyboard?