Augi: Toy Design for Neurological Diversity Inclusion

Play experiences are essential to children’s holistic development, yet many neurodiverse children, especially those with autism, face barriers due to ableist toy design and limited support services. Despite high demand from parents, inclusive play remains overlooked in mainstream toys. Experts revealed that understanding emotions, social interaction with others and communication were the most identifiable developmental skills that children with ASD struggle with. Play patterns that support emotional reciprocity while addressing sensory needs through varied textures, shapes, and colours were key challenges, including CAD development and user testing to ensure the design process was reflecting and responding to real user needs.

Augi uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods to facilitate emotional understanding for children with ASD. With a unique variety of parts in different shapes, colours, and textures, each one can be used to represent a range of emotions. The playset focuses on supporting both neurotypical children and those with specific needs, enabling each user to communicate through play using their interpretations of emotions while engaging at their own pace. The project also includes prompt cards to help guide the play experience between children, educators, and loved ones as they learn how to process and communicate emotions through self-expression.

Augi challenges the toy industry's neglect of inclusive design by addressing the urgent need for accessible, neurodiverse-friendly toys. Developed through co-design with parents, educators, and specialists, it demonstrates how inclusive play can build everyday skills, support emotional development, and ease parental concerns. The project highlights the inequity children with disabilities face when excluded from meaningful play and reframes toys as essential tools for inclusive development. Augi proves that the need and demand for these products outweigh outdated industry misconceptions, positioning inclusive play not as a niche but as a necessary standard for healthier childhoods and stronger communities.

1) 42 interchangeable character parts. - Organized into six individual pouches. Each part is categorised into heads, torsos, arms, legs, eyes, and mouths. - Features a variety of shapes, textures, forms, and colours to support sensory exploration and emotional expression. - Designed with interoception in mind—how bodily responses help identify emotions—based on feedback from paediatric and occupational therapists. - Supports discussions around emotional regulation, empathy, social communication, and emotional reciprocity through therapeutic, play-based interaction- while encouraging free and open-ended play. 2) Instructional Play Guide Booklets. - Features three different game activities (free play/constructive play/cooperative play) to help guide the play experience (optional). Users can otherwise choose to engage with the toys as is. 3) Game Cards & Dice. As shown in the instructional guide booklets, users can engage in two different game modes with the inclusion of game cards and a dice. 4) Weather-Proof Drawstring Bag.