Autism fidget toys are a fad

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Toys R US has a "fidget toys" and "autism awareness category on their website, and it's infuriating because they still refuse to give A$ a well deserved swift kick out the door. Several of their "fidget toys" are things that have been around forever that you can buy almost anywhere, like Etch-a-Sketch, Silly Putty and Rubik's Cube.

I started reviewing some of their toys, and my username on their site is OpenlyAspie.

I'm not going to lie, it irritates me slightly that things that are technically designed to be therapeutic tools for people with specific disabilities have now become a fad, or "fashionable" for lack of a better word. It feels a little like if weighted vests were to suddenly become cool, and everyone was wearing them everywhere just because. I feel like it takes away from the gravity of the fact that these objects have a medical purpose, and subsequently, it takes away from the gravity of the experiences of people who need them for said medical purpose. I wouldn't hobble around on crutches just to look cool. I dunno, just my two cents on the matter.

Seen some fidget toys myself, and tried a few -- not much suited in my case. I'm too content fidgeting with my own hands and hair as far as I could remember.
Not very well known from where I came from yet, I have no news how known these toys are.

They're expensive. even the fake ones. I would rather make my own fidget toy for myself, or stick to what I (literally) have.

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**WARNING: I am not trying to be argumentative or aggressive; I just thought of a few comparisons explaining my view and my monologuing took over.**

Although I AM visually impaired, I am NOT legally blind. But my visual impairment makes print blurry and reading exhausting, so I learned to read Braille which is never exhausting. And my sensory issues make it difficult to be aware of my surroundings, so I taught my Service Dog guide work which keeps me safe. According to your logic, I should not use these tools because I AM NOT BLIND?

Although I AM hearing impaired, I am NOT profoundly deaf. But my hearing impairment makes speech muffled and listening exhausting, so I use closed captioning. And, with my selective mutism, it makes it difficult to speak to people, so I learned American Sign Language and use an interpreter at important appointments which helps me communicate. According to your logic, I should not use these tools because I AM NOT DEAF?

Just because there are people with disabilities who DEPEND on Service Dogs for their HEALTH, does not mean there are not also people with disabilities who DEPEND on Service Dogs for their INDEPENDENCE, or people with disabilities who use Emotional Support Dogs for the THERAPEUTIC value, or people WITHOUT disabilities who BENEFIT from having pets for the therapeutic value. Not to mention the working, guarding, herding, or hunting dogs, all of which came long before Service Dogs for disabilities. According to your logic, people should not have these dogs because they ARE NOT DISABLED?

Just because there are people with AUTISM who NEED fidget toys for the therapeutic value, does not mean there are not also people with OTHER disabilities who NEED fidget toys for the same therapeutic value, or that people WITHOUT disabilities can not BENEFIT from it. Not to mention that the same toys that are now marketed to autistics, are the same toys that were marketed to all children long before autism spectrum disorder became a recognized marketing audience. According to your logic, people should no longer buy these toys because they ARE NOW MARKETED TO AUTISTICS?

As for crutches, people without disabilities use them too; they just call them walking sticks.

_________________
31st of July, 2013
Diagnosed: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Auditory-Verbal Processing Speed Disorder, and Visual-Motor Processing Speed Disorder.

Weak Emerging Social Communicator (The Social Thinking-­Social Communication Profile by Michelle Garcia Winner, Pamela Crooke and Stephanie Madrigal)

"I am silently correcting your grammar."

I apologize again. My last post sounds aggressive. It was meant to sound enthusiastic about encouraging the use of tools for the disabled to help all people live better and happier.

I think the tragedy of that article is that the abuse of those toys means that people who are dependent on them, and not abusing them, may still be banned from using them.

_________________
31st of July, 2013
Diagnosed: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Auditory-Verbal Processing Speed Disorder, and Visual-Motor Processing Speed Disorder.

Weak Emerging Social Communicator (The Social Thinking-­Social Communication Profile by Michelle Garcia Winner, Pamela Crooke and Stephanie Madrigal)

"I am silently correcting your grammar."

Fidget cubes, sensory slime, etc. are all becoming popular too.
I'm fine with it to a certain extent because it makes them more widely available and it means people who need them are less stigmatized for using them.
On the other hand, people often go too far with them and they get banned for everyone and/or people start seeing it as intolerably annoying.

I certainly walked into a 7-11 today, and they had these spinner toy things and this kid and their parent or grandparent came in and they were all excited to get one. I thought it was kinda funny having seen this thread already....guess it is sort of a fad, but don't see it being a harmful one...I mean what would they rather their kids only be entertained by electronics?

Adults always on their smartphones complaining about kids seeing fidget toys as trendy things to occupy themselves with...the horror...lol.

I got several Fidget Cubes from the Kickstarter and use them both at home and at work.

I also don't see them as an AS thing either, and just as useful for many fidget NTs.

I think the plus point of it being a fad is that more companies will want a bit of the action and produce more fidget toys which will only bring prices down. If it is just a fad then the more expensive toys may just get sold on at reduced prices when the fad is over which is good news for people or actually find them useful.

I was thinking about getting one of these fidget toys for myself, simply because some, possibly that cube thing, sounds like it could help me. I have very restless hands that constantly need to be doing something. Fad or no, they represent an option, though it's sad schools are banning these things if they are helping kids.
Not surprised, though. My old primary school banned pretty much every craze that came about: Pogs, GoGos, Pokemon/Yu-Gi-Oh cards, even conkers. Anything that someone considered a health and safety risk. Fidgeting wise, for now I just have my worry stones.