Awesome program:
More here: Go Baby Go! Popular Mechanics has a good writeup on the program:
Why Power Wheels Are the Perfect Physical Therapy Tool for Kids
It's 3 p.m. in the basement of the engineering building at Central Connecticut State University. Desks and chairs have been pushed against the walls to make space for the main event. Within this ring is a second circle of adults in T-shirts and jeans, turning away to cover their expectant smiles. And in the center of this circle is four-year-old Patrick, who has just climbed behind the wheel of a brand new red convertible.
He is silent, uncertain, shifting in his seat. A cloud of concern passes through his brown eyes. Then, suddenly, it's gone. Without warning, he's off, his hesitation ousted by contagious glee.
"You better watch where you're going, buddy," his mother, Kate, calls after him. "Keep your eyes on the road!" Patrick zooms past, grinning. A volunteer jumps in front him, grabs the hood with both hands, and swings it around in another direction just before Patrick crashes into a table.
"I got a car!"
And the money quote:
Where the average power chair starts at around 25 grand, a little red convertible like Patrick's costs about 100 bucks. It's part of Galloway's GoBabyGo! program, in which each car is customized to suit and support its recipient. Take outgoing and energetic Xander, one of the program's earliest beta testers. For all his energy, Xander's weak leg muscles were making it hard for him to keep up on the playground. Galloway's solution? A kid-sized ATV that only worked when Xander stood up in the driver's seat. Now he's building strength in his legs, and his (slightly jealous) friends have to race to keep up with him.
Like they said in the video - $100 for the car and another $100 for the various kibbles and bits to customize. The really nice thing is that their development is open source - they give the plans away for free to anyone who wants them. Spread the idea around.
Leave a comment