BEAR ESSENTIALS
Friendswood mom creates toy to give nonverbal children a voice
Family and immediate caregivers of very young nonverbal children with autism and other disabilities often are fluent in deciphering their wants and needs. But that doesn’t leave the child feeling empowered — and what happens when he or she is with a new sitter or at day care?
Tameka Maiden, a single mother and pharmacist, has a communication solution.
Her Cubby Love Bears, teddy bears that teach children colors, numbers, the alphabet and other primary skills, have a new member in their den: U’Neek — the Gifted Bear. When a child presses its preprogrammed paws and ears, U’Neek audibly tells caregivers that the child is hungry, sleepy, feeling bad, needs help or to use the bathroom, or wants to play.
In honor of Autism Awareness Month in April, Maiden, a Friendswood resident, is looking to partner with area businesses to get the bear into the hands of as many needy nonverbal children as possible. To start, she and former NFL player James Ihedigbo are launching a “Get a Bear, Give a Bear” campaign via his and wife Brittany’s Kiddie Academy locations to provide children with autism and other special needs a bear for free. (A prior affiliation with rap artist Trae Tha Truth appears to have dissolved; he could not be reached for comment.)
“I wanted to empower the kids,” Maiden said. “What more of an empowerment is there than helping them communicate?”
Indeed, Maiden is all about communication. She launched Cubby Love Bears with bilingual stuffed animals to give her daughter, Tori Thomas, now 4, a foundation in Spanish. (The special-needs bear speaks English only.) She also felt her family’s frustration in not always knowing the needs of her cousin with autism. And as a Kroger pharmacist, Maiden has a young nonverbal customer who, “even if he’s not there to pick up prescriptions, always wants to see me. I asked his mom, ‘What are some things we can do to help him?’ ”
Though nonverbal children can use flashcards, speech apps and other assistive technology, “I wanted something they could feel safe with,” she said. Much research and several focus groups later, the cuddly translator was born.
Since a “soft launch” in late February, about 100 in the first batch of 500 bears remain. More are on the way from the manufacturer in China, Maiden said.
“I always had love for kids,” said Maiden, a former teacher. “As a teacher, you love kids. When you become a parent, you love the parents. Now I can help kids and parents at the same time.”
The Ihedigbos, who own and operate Kiddie Academy locations in Lakes of Savannah, League City East and League City West, welcomed the chance to donate the bear to families with a nonverbal child. James, a safety for the Super Bowl-winning Baltimore Ravens in 2012 who retired from football in 2018, said his entire family is passionate about education. He credits his mother, who holds a doctorate in early-childhood development, with teaching him about children with disabilities and the need “to create an avenue for them to have a voice.”
For every Cubby Love Bear purchased through the educational child care facilities, the Ihedigbos will give a needy family with a nonverbal child the special-needs bear.
“We’re thankful to be a part of the phenomenal job Tameka is doing for kids on the autism spectrum to help them communicate,” James said, noting his Kiddie Academies have a handful enrolled. “… (The bear) makes caregiving that much easier.”
Maiden said it was rewarding to see a teen with fine-motor deficits smile at finally being able to press the bear’s paw to make it speak. Still, she is considering creating another bear that can simply be rubbed. More features are likely coming to U’Neek as well.
“This bear is the outpouring of love and appreciation for parents (of nonverbal children),” she said. “I want to do more and more.”