Toy Library For Disabled Children

Anglia Television: Interview with Margaret and Jack Wymer on their founding the Toy Library for disabled children at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

Shot of a group of disabled children and their parents gathered in the toy library at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital playing with toys. Anglia Television reporter Ellis Hill interviews Jack and Margaret Wymer about their decision to start the toy library for disabled children. Margaret explains that they always wanted to do something for disabled children and so she wrote to the toy library in London asking if they could borrow equipment. They replied that they can’t send the toys as far as Norwich and so suggested that she start up their own toy library. The aim of the group is to lend toys to disabled children and their brothers and sisters whilst also helping their mums get together. The children are given the opportunity to try out toys which they wouldn’t be able to do in a shop. Ellis Hill discusses the finances involved. Jack Wymer says that they wrote to organisations who donated money and a lot of the toys in the library have been donated to them. If they receive donated toys which aren’t up to scratch, then they sell them in a second hand sale to raise money for the toy library. They discuss the volunteers who help out. Margaret Wymer explains that many of the volunteers have no specialist knowledge as they come from all walks of life. Ellis Hill walks into the room where all of the children and their parents are playing with the toys. Above the door is a sign reading ‘Norfolk and Norwich Toy Library.’ Close up of the library organiser and a child playing. Ellis Hill interviews her and asks her what problems she has to regularly sort out. Close ups of children playing as she answers that there are too many children and too little space. They discuss how she has taught and worked with disabled children before. She says how there is educational value regarding many of the toys but they also want the library to be fun for the children as well. Close up of a child playing with a toy phone. She explains how some of the toys have been recommended to them by physiotherapists. She explains that the library is a chance for the children to try all the toys as there is no sense of anything being a girl's or a boy's toy. They are also not limited to certain abilities and so they can try anything they like. They discuss the benefits for the mothers attending the toy library. Shot of Peter, one of the volunteers, tidying some toys. He says that the children get along really well with each other. Shot of a group of children playing. They discuss how the children get each toy for up to a month. They then discuss the improvement in the children since coming to the toy library. Close up of a child laying on a mat looking at a puppet. Ellis Hill interviews one of the mothers who says it is beneficial for both mothers and children. Close up of the child. Camera zooms out to show the group of children and parents talking and playing. Interview with a mother whose child was born with dislocated hips and so would have to spend a long time in hospital. The toy library therefore helped her find toys which could be used for a child laying down. Shot of a group of children playing with toys.

Featured Buildings

Norfolk and Norwich Hospital

Keywords

Children; Disabled People; Games; Handicapped People; Library; Norfolk and Norwich Hospital; Toys;

Background Information

Jack and Margaret Wymer, the founders of the Toy Library, both suffer from Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and having experienced segregation from other children at school, liked the idea of starting an enterprise where children with all kinds of disability could play together with their able-bodied brothers and sisters.