One of Sonya’s favorite toys she received over the holidays was her monkey, which I purchased at Becca’s Crochet Studio shop on Etsy. It is beautifully made and super cute. Best of all, the toy was fully-customizable. I chose the animal, color, type of device and even color of the device. Becca was lovely to work with and her turnaround was super impressive (we received it just over a week later)!
Becca Sherman, the founder of Becca’s Crochet Studio is a third year doctor of audiology student, who volunteers part-time in a local children’s hospital. Like me, Becca noticed that there are few toys out there that prominently feature cochlear implants and hearing aids (as well as other devices) and decided to fill that void with her creations. I was curious as to how she started this business and she was kind enough to answer a few questions!
What inspired you to start creating toys with CIs?
I taught myself to crochet right before graduate school and quickly realized I loved to make stuffed animals. After about a year of encouragement from friends/family, I decided to start selling them (they had been inundated with my creations)! After a few months, I got to thinking, there aren’t many toys for children with hearing loss, so why not add animals with cochlear implants and hearing aids to my Etsy store? It quickly spiraled from there and I received more orders than ever before. It became clear there was a huge need for toys like these and I decided to branch out and now offer animals with G-tubes, tracheotomy tubes, insulin pumps and more.
Do any toys you made for a particular child stand out?
I volunteer in a children’s center for a local hospital. One of the little boys I often work with has to wear a mask outside of his home to protect himself from germs (he is immunocompromised). I made him a monkey with a medical mask just like his and the reactions from him and his family were absolutely priceless, and will be something I will always remember. It was amazing to see the impact a toy can have on a child and reinforced my belief that inclusive toys should be available for every child!
I choose animals where I can crochet their devices to stand out so that children can feel proud about their own devices, and even use the toys to educate their peers about their differences. Each toy takes seven to nine hours to make.
What is your background?
I have been working with children for as long as I can remember — both typically and non-typically developing. Throughout my life I’ve moved through different artistic mediums (from painting to quilting and pretty much everything in between). Crocheting is the only of these crafts I’ve really been able to master. To be able to create something that benefits children is incredibly rewarding and combines two of my favorite things.
Thank you, Becca for your beautiful creations which we cherish! Bonus! Get 10% off your order with the coupon code SONYAROSE.
P.s. I wrote about other toys and gifts that feature cochlear implants and hearing aids here and here.
Hearing Sonya Rose 