Pawpillow
The challenge
Daria’s motor challenges make it hard for her to play and communicate actively, especially with her dog. Pawpillow gives her a new way to connect, express herself, and experience joy and independence through interaction.
Who it helps
Motor disabilities can make it hard to interact actively with others, including pets. Pawpillow gives children a new, easy way to play, communicate, and build emotional bonds — even without speech or fine motor control.
How it works
The cushion lets Daria stay close to her dog and have fun together. It gives her a way to express herself and feel connected, even without words.
We created a soft, crescent-shaped pillow with built-in buttons that send commands to Daria’s dog (by recording the commends). By pressing the buttons, Daria can play, communicate, and build a stronger bond with her dog in a fun and easy way.
Tools needed
sewing machine
scissors
Project details
- Stage: Concept
- Built by the Kibbutzim College community, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
- Team: Daria, a smart and lively 6-year-old girl with a progressive neurological condition that affects her motor skills but not her understanding.
- Category: Daily Living, Hobbies, Fun/Leisure
The build files for Pawpillow are free to download from this page - open source, shared by TOM: Tikkun Olam Makers.
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