Shropshire toy specialist wins commission for boat

The Shropshire creator of a series of specially adapted toys for disabled children has won a commission from a spinal injury unit to make head-steered motorboats for a new contest.

Mike Taylor launched Excitim in 2007 from his home in Market Drayton, and now sells adapted toys across the world with distributors in Sweden, Italy, France, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and recently had an inquiry from Spain.

He is now working with the Queen Elizabeth National Spinal Injury Unit in Glasgow to produce two Dream-Racer remote controlled boats steered by a cap which picks up on head movements.

They hope to use the remote controlled boats in a Paralympics-style competition on August 28 where patients will race the boats around a course in an indoor swimming pool.

Dr Taylor said: "Our products allow children who cannot use conventional toys and equipment such as Play Station remote controls to use them alone whilst also having some independence.

"These youngsters are often very determined and want to be able to do things themselves. With our switch toys, which are adapted with a much larger switch, they can do simple tasks like switching on a toy themselves.

"It also gives these youngsters access to mainstream toys. We can adapt virtually anything and products like talking Woody from Toy Story and Thomas the Tank Engine products have been flying off the shelves as these children want to be able to have the same toys as their siblings and friends."

Dr Taylor's Dream Racer cap has been tested out by former Formula One champion Damon Hill at a charity fun day.

Dr Taylor, who adapts the toys himself, said the reward of his work was seeing the children's faces when they realise they can use the product themselves.

"Gloria and I have worked with many different schools, hospitals and various clubs in the past and the results for us is seeing the smiles on the children's faces when they realise they are doing something independently," he said.

"Very often this is the first time they have done something on their own without having to ask their parents – and this can be something as simple as turning the TV on or playing with a toy on their own."

Excitim's switch adapted toys were voted the "overall winner" in the inclusive play section of the Good Toy Guide 2009/10.

Other products are also included for older children such as a switch accessible digital camera, a DVD player and a programmable infra-red controller which can control a Bose Sound Dock, a TV, a bed, air conditioning and also act as a curtain closer.