The Kansas City chapter of "Go Baby Go" brought students, parents and fast cars in a parking lot at Rockhurst University, and the results seemed to please everyone involved.
The organization, partnered locally with Variety KC, takes common motorized toy riding cars and modifies them to be used by children that wouldn't otherwise be able to.
Kendra Gagnon, associate professor of physical therapy education at Rockhurst University, is the Director of the Variety KC's Go Baby Go program.
"For kids with mobility impairments who can't hit a foot pedal, who can't push a really tiny button, we put a big red button on the steering wheel, we might put it behind their head. We customize it to give that child a way to move that car," she said. ?
They hold "build workshops" several times during the school year.
They bring diverse students and community members together.
"We have a mix of physical therapy, occupational therapy and engineering students from Rockhurst," Gagnon said.
The students work together to modify the cars, but the real work begins when the kids and parents arrive to test out the vehicles.
Gagnon says this brings real world experience for the students.
"We think we know what's going to work and then the kid gets in the car in their real life and we realize that you know we need to make some solutions for real life," she said.
Kelsey Zabel, mother of 22-month-old Kace, watched him quickly figure out the car and take off, driving occasionally with his feet. He even experimented with standing up.
"We just need a seat belt and we will be good to go,"she laughed.
Zabel was enthusiastic about the new freedom for her daredevil son.?
"Oh it's awesome. He just wants to move and so this is one more way that we can get him that and he can experience it without breaking my back," she said.
The founder of the nation wide Go Baby Go program was on hand to see the results
"As somebody that's trained to understand the brain and family dynamics, as a researcher and as a dad of three mobile boys, it's tingly, it's tingly every time," professor Cole Galloway said.
And while it's fun and empowering for the kids, Galloway says it also improves their function.
"So the cognition, language, socialization that we measure off these kids is just as jumpy as you see the smiles," he said.
The chapter plans another build event on October twenty-ninth. Anyone who is interested is invited to attend, no experience necessary.
More information can be found on theFacebook page for Variety KC Go Baby Go.
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