Giving Mobility When Legs Can’t

[kpete]

Giving Mobility When Legs Can’t


BABIES ON BOARD Children at the University of Delaware’s Early Learning Center driving the cars.
Dr. Galloway set out to provide the very young with a means to motor around on their own.



Usually, small children who cannot walk because of a physical condition are simply picked up or wheeled in strollers. But motorized chairs, which could give them some independence, are typically not available to them until they reach school age. This lack of mobility is a serious concern because exploring one’s surroundings at a young age is crucial to developing social interaction and making cognitive progress.

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He began with high-tech robotic chairs, but soon realized that such devices were too expensive and produced in low volume for the demand. After some tinkering, he hit upon a simple, cheap and effective substitute: mass-market battery-power cars available at toy stores — a Barbie Jeep or Thomas the Tank Engine, for example — that could be individually adapted to the child’s needs.

Taking cues from the driver-protection measures in racecars, these toy cars are outfitted with well-padded safety cages of tubing that surrounds the youngsters, seat-belt harnesses and custom-fitted driver controls.

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Again borrowing from auto racing, Dr. Galloway has indoor and outdoor test tracks to monitor the progress of vehicle development with his tiny drivers. He has even set up traveling seminars to teach the families of physically impaired children how to convert these motorized toys themselves, setting previously immobile babies free to wreak typical toddler havoc.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/08/automobiles/giving-mobility-when-legs-cant.html?hpw

[MineralMan]

1. Great idea. Affordable, available, and easily modified

to suit the child's needs. In many cases, though, a larger battery will be needed to provide a long enough driving time, but that's easy, too.

I like it.

[gopiscrap]

2. How cool

as a child of a mother who had her leg amputated because of World War II I always hold these folks close in my heart. I have witnessed first hand the struggles of those who can't walk. Myself included. I had encephalitis when I was 3 weeks old and couldn't walk til I turned 4 years old. Then I ran every where til I got old and slow which I am now!