Switch-Adapting a Musical Aquarium Toy for Accessible Play

Standard toys often have small, recessed switches that require fine motor skills many children struggle with. This project takes a multi-mode musical toy and adapts it for inclusive play. By bypassing the original small toggle and adding a large, accessible button to cycle through the four play modes, it is now possible for a child with limited dexterity to lead their own playtime independently.

What you will need:

1. The toy
2. Solder Iron and Solder
3. AbleNet Buddy Button x1
4. Audio Jack x1
5. Texas Instruments CD4066BE CMOS Logic 4000 Series
6. IC Socket 16-Pin Dual Wipe Low Profile 0.3 Inch Wide x1
7. Socket IC 14-Pin Dual Wipe Low Profile 0.3 Inch Wide x1
8. Drill + drill bit
9. Hot glue and Glue Gun
10. Generic Protoboard x1
11. Wires

First, open the toy to see the insides. After testing the toy and finding out which pin does what on the circuit board, another circuit design was created to achieve the functionality that the toy needed.

After some research was done, a completed circuit board was assembled (see above). This circuit will allow the user of the toy to alternate through the modes the toy has via a press of a button. To explain the circuit board, the yellow wires will go from the battery of the toy to the decade counter on the board. Wires coming from the batteries will power the chips.

The audio jack can be placed on the side of the toy. Using a drill and making a hole for the audio jack to be placed in is one way to do this. After the audio jack is placed and securely attached to the toy, solder the wires onto the audio jack to make the connection.

Placing the circuit board on the back of the toy is a good idea since the back of the toy has a large amount of free room. Find a place to hot glue the board onto the toy so it does not move when the toy is moved.

Soldering the yellow wires to the audio jack will connect the button to the decade counter which will allow a press of the button to alternate modes of the toy. The red wires connected to the battery power the chip so the button will power the toy on and cycle through the modes once pressed again. Circles have been placed on the picture to indicate where to solder both yellow and red wires to integrate the newly constructed board.

After all the wiring is done and everything is in place and stationery, close up the toy carefully while making sure the wires are all packed back inside of the toy.

After these modifications are done and completed, the button will allow the user to alternate modes via a press of a button and the previous button will no longer control the modes of the toy.