About Us
Hello, we’re Ryan & Mia — the founders of Mibbyland — along with our two cats,
Jidi (our curious troublemaker) and Nomi (our gentle, fluffy supervisor).
Jidi (our curious troublemaker) and Nomi (our gentle, fluffy supervisor).
About Mibbyland
Mibbyland was born from our experiences volunteering with autistic children and their families. During those moments, we began to notice something that stayed with us: many products designed for children with special needs rarely feel like “normal” products.
Some are functional, but overly clinical—more like medical tools than everyday items. Others look playful, but aren’t thoughtfully designed for real sensory or communication needs. In both cases, these products can unintentionally highlight differences, drawing unwanted attention and quietly affecting a child’s sense of dignity and belonging.
That’s where Mibbyland began.
We set out to redefine sensory toys—to make them more playful, stylish, and inclusive, so they feel like a natural part of everyday life, not a reminder of being different.
But We Find More...
As we listened to more families, we learned something important: redefining doesn’t always mean starting over.
For many children, familiarity creates safety. Introducing something entirely new—even with good intentions—can sometimes add confusion or stress.
That insight shaped one of our core principles: we design by listening to real moments of overwhelm, frustration, and need.
Not to “fix” children,
but to better understand when things feel too much—and how design can respond more gently.
Our MibbyTalk
One of those moments led to the creation of MibbyTalk.
We’re encouraged to see more non-verbal individuals benefit from AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) devices, especially high-tech AAC systems that open powerful ways to communicate. At the same time, we noticed that not everyone is able to continue using them—particularly at the beginning.
Through conversations with families, we learned that for some non-verbal children, early experience with high-tech AAC devices can feel overwhelming. Complex interfaces and unfamiliar systems can create frustration, leading some children to disengage before communication habits have a chance to form.
So we asked a simple question: Could there be a gentler step between no communication and highly complex AAC systems? — That question became MibbyTalk.
MibbyTalk is a mid-tech communication device, designed to support non-verbal individuals in expressing basic needs more easily in everyday moments. It aims to reduce frustration caused by communication barriers and to serve as a bridge toward high-tech AAC systems, when and if that step feels right.
We want to be clear: MibbyTalk does not replace professional AAC systems, nor is it meant to. Our hope is that more families will eventually benefit from AAC in all its forms. We simply want the journey to feel a little easier, a little calmer, and a lot more supportive from the very beginning.
Go with Us!
And MibbyTalk is only the beginning.
We continue to explore real, meaningful moments — from sensory pencil grips that turn handwriting into a fun sensory activity, to small design details that quietly make daily life feel easier.
If this sounds familiar to you—whether it’s related to communication, sensory needs, or a single moment in daily life—we sincerely invite you to share those experiences with us. (Email us: partners@mibbyland.com)
We will do our best to respond with thoughtful design and mindful communication, helping overlooked needs be seen sooner, and supporting more children with special needs in the way they deserve: with understanding, dignity, and respect.