Special Needs Collection

What is the Special Needs Collection?
The Troy Public Library's Special Needs Collection is a collection of toys, modified to be more accessible to those with disabilities. These toys are used to teach specific skills through play, and to provide meaningful opportunities for life long learning and personal enrichment to individuals with special needs.

This Collection was the first of its kind in Metro Detroit, and remains one of only a handful in the entire nation. It was started with a $5,000 gift from the Friends of the Troy Public Library, an example of both the forward thinking nature of the Friends, and the group's ongoing commitment to the library.

What is in the Collection?
A sample of items in our collection:

      Adaptive toys for teaching cause & effect
      Manipulatives for motor skills development
      Sensory materials for hearing and vision impaired
      Puzzles and games for cognitive development
      Software for developing various skill sets
      Children's books - about various disabilities or special needs
      Reference materials for parents and educators

Currently the core collection focuses primarily on early intervention. As the collection grows, items reflecting the interests and needs of teens and adults will be added. Soon we will also have materials for post stroke rehab such as:

      Fine motor skills manipulatives
      Memory games and software
      Language rehab software and flash cards

How were the items selected?
Items for the collection were carefully chosen with the help and input from educators, therapists and parents of special needs children.

Why toys?

Play is the foundation for learning. Through play, children learn more about cause and effect and develop language, motor and sensory skills. Many adaptive toys are expensive, not covered by insurance and available only through catalogs. With a library collection, parents will be able to "test drive" a toy to see if it is appropriate for their child, have access to more toys and be able to make more informed choices when making a purchasing decision. The children will benefit from having access to more options and a wider range of learning experiences. In addition, parents and educators will benefit from resources in the form of books and information sources.

How do I borrow materials from the Collection?
Patrons with a Troy Public Library card can check out materials from the Special Needs Collection. The loan period on these items is 21 days. For more information on general circulation policies click here.

Learn more about the Friends of the Troy Public Library.