It used to bug me when things like fidget spinners, tangles, and other stim toys were sold at places like Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, because they’d become overly popular and the new craze. However, I’ve come to realize that stim toys and things like weighted blankets being sold at stores not only makes things more accessible to people who can’t order them online, but also it makes parents of autistic/disabled/neurodivegent kids more likely to accept and understand them.
While in a perfect world parents would understand the purpose of stim toys and other disability aids but for parents who don’t want their child “looking autistic” or having something that “draws attention to their child’s disability,” seeing these items in a big box store like target makes parents more willingly to purchase and give them to their kid. Yes, parents shouldn’t be ashamed of their child’s disability or what other people think but the sad truth is many parents suck.
For example, for years I’ve wanted a weighted blanket! I never purchased one myself because they’re pretty expensive and when I’ve asked for one as a gift my mom has crinkled her nose in disgust. However, 4 years later my mom bought me one from Bed Bath & Beyond out of the blue just because there was a display and some bullshit sign about how it helps anxiety. While it’s super annoying my mom only got me one because it was trendy and seemed “socially acceptable,” I now have a weighted blanket and I didn’t before. Parents seeing things at stores really can change things even if it’s for superficial reasons.