Overall highlights of Clap Your Hands – 2025

We ended the year in 2025 with our highest donation of 4,743 products to our local families and schools
We continued to hold bi-monthly sewing classes
We were able to send 7 children, with different abilities, to Summer Camp
         – our highest number to date in one year – thanks to the Rex Porter Family.

We celebrated our 11^th anniversary as a pediatric non-profit in the Low Country
                * In the past 11 years we have donated over 36,000 therapeutic products

We continue to work with our medical and educational professionals in the Low Country. Therapists, Pediatricians, Teachers, and Counselors.

Our Clap Your Hands team is made up of 100% volunteers. These ladies are dedicated in providing the highest quality of work. We continue to be debt free and have no overhead.

Clap Your Hands looks forward to serving in our community in 2026 and beyond.

Products and Services

Our weighted products provide a calming effect on the children. The weight release stress from the child, in the same way as giving a tight hug or swaddling a baby. Our weighted items have aided children with Autism, ADHD, Aspergers, Sensory Processing disorders, and many more.

Our Sensory pads are made with different types of textured material. We have many sizes and shapes designed especially for the child. We believe these to be extremely helpful for children who have been diagnosed with Trichotillomania and Dermatillomania. By giving the children an alternative to destructive behavior they are able to self soothe on their own.

WHAT WE MAKE – Weighted blankets, vests, lap and neck pads, maze pads, sensory pads.

Please visit our ‘Request a Product’ page to submit a request!

REMINDER: CLAP YOUR HANDS allows our Volunteers two BREAKS each year:
SUMMER (June & July) and WINTER HOLIDAYS (Thanksgiving through New Years Day)

UPDATED GUIDELINES for our Weighted Products

Clap Your Hands is continually updating the latest guidelines and CYH’s policies.
We want our products to be a blessing to the child and families.
*If a product is used incorrectly it could result in injuries.

Weighted Blankets and Lap Pads- 2 years old and up – minimum 20+ pounds

Neck Pads – 4 years old and up – 40lbs.+

Vests – 4 years old and up – 40lbs. +

Fidgets – 3 years old and up (due to small pieces that could break off

We work directly with the child’s Pediatrician, Licensed Therapist, ABA Therapist, Licensed Counselor. They have medical training to understand how weighted products work. **Clap Your Hands volunteers are not medical professionals and rely on your child’s medical team to decide which product will work best for your child.

• Child must have the motor skills to push, lift or remove the blanket completely on their own.
• No head coverage – the blanket must never be placed over the face or head.
• Adult Supervision always supervise a child the first few times they use it to ensure the comfort of the child and not in distress.
• Does child have sleep apnea, breathing issues, heart, or lung issues?

How do we know the ratio from pounds to the weight of the child?

Ten percent (10%) of the child’s weight – ex. If the child weighs 50 lbs. the child will need a 5 lb. blanket.
Medical professionals can give us additional input on the weight of the blanket.

Vests have 8 to 14 pockets inside, depending on the size of the vest. Each pocket can hold a small vest bag. These vest bags are filled with either bb pellets or other heavy pellets. The maximum time a vest should be worn is 3 hours. Worn during times of high stress for the child, such as test taking, doctor appointments, shopping, or riding the bus.

The larger blankets are purchased – as our sewing machines can not handle the weight of the blankets.

Washing Instructions – Gently hand wash – lay flat to dry.
These precautions are needed with thousands of pellets inside the blankets and lap pads.

Empty all the small vest bags inside the pockets. Wash vest normally. Vest bags must be spot cleaned and lay flat to dry.

Clap Your Hands is now offering free monthly classes on how to make a weighted lap pad. Also, one of our skilled workers has volunteered to open their home to anyone who wants to learn how to sew these lap pads.  Space is limited, so if you’d like to attend please email us at claphands123@gmail.com. We will give you the address and phone number at that time. Both locations are in Summerville.

You are welcome to bring your own sewing machine or we do have a few extra machines available.  All fabrics and materials are included.  All lap pads are the property of Clap Your Hands and will be donated to our local schools and families in the Lowcountry.  

Babies should not show a hand preference before 18 months old.

Cerebral Palsy Awareness.

Together we can make a difference.