Hagan Walker and Anna Barker, entrepreneurs in Mississippi State University's Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach, created colorful cubes that light up when dropped in liquid—and the Glo Pals have since been recognized with a Gold Award win in the 2020 Mom's Choice Awards. The pair got feedback from moms and found that the toys were especially soothing sensory toys for kids with autism and Glo Pals were born as fun characters that promote imaginative learning.
Now, the Glo Pals range is being expanded, in celebration of National Autism Acceptance Month, to include two Sesame Street Characters. There's Elmo and Julia, a Sesame Street Muppet with autism. These two new characters join the existing Glo Pals range, which includes colorful characters like Pippa, Alex and Lumi, each of which has a special personality of their own.
What's Driving This Trend
- Sensory Toys
- Opportunity for innovating toys or devices that stimulate the senses for children with autism.
- Character Licensing
- Potential for expanding product offerings through licensing of popular characters and franchises.
- Inclusive Design
- A focus on creating products that are accessible and beneficial for individuals with disabilities or special needs.
Who This Affects Most
- Toy Manufacturing
- Opportunity for toy manufacturers to create more inclusive and sensory-stimulating products.
- Licensing and Merchandising
- Opportunity for licensing and merchandising agencies to expand offerings to more inclusive and diverse markets.
- Healthcare
- Potential for healthcare professionals and organizations to incorporate sensory toys as a part of therapy for children with autism.
