A child’s first words are a milestone. It’s the beginning of their ability to express themselves verbally, and integral to asserting their independence. So when Tameka Maiden’s younger cousin with autism could not speak, she recognised the impact it had on his development. “Life without speech can be scary for both kids and parents,” she says. Adults are unable to understand what children are trying to say, and as a result children’s needs go unfulfilled. There are a range of reasons why children may be non-verbal, from Down Syndrome and cerebral palsy to trauma. “Just because the child doesn’t have the ability to speak doesn't mean that they do not want to communicate,” Maiden says. To address this, she’s using teddy bears as a way for kids to speak up.
Maiden is the creator of Cubby Love Bears, a range of stuffed toys that includes a bear designed especially for non-verbal children. “The Auzy Bear helps kids communicate their basic needs,” she says. The paws of the bear feature multiple buttons which, when pressed, play pre-recorded voice messages that convey whether the child is hungry, sleepy, wants to play, or use the toilet. Maiden’s toys have become an invaluable resource for hundreds of caregivers and teachers. They are simple, effective, and can even unite people across cultures.
The Cubby Love Bears range also includes bilingual bears that teach kids the alphabet, numbers, and colours in Spanish, the second most-spoken language in the United States where Maiden is based. This early introduction improves a child’s ability to learn the language and talk to people in their mother tongue. “Everyone deserves the empowerment of a voice,” Maiden says. More than just a linguistic learning tool, her bears are teaching non-verbal children that what they have to say matters. “We don’t need words to communicate, but we do need understanding to survive,” Maiden says.
