WCS Project Promises Special Tikes More Mobility
WARSAW — A grant-funded project at Warsaw Community Schools is being conceived with the purpose of providing the gift of mobility to area youngsters who are physically impaired, according to a WCS press release.
Abbi Richcreek, and engineering and technology and Project Lead The Way teacher at Edgewood Middle School, reported Thursday, March 7, that she had “written and received a grant from Kosciusko County Community Foundation to modify three Power Wheel-type cars” designed for children ages two to four years of age. Richcreek said the project is part of an initiative called Go Baby Go, an international grassroots movement focused on real-time, real-world solutions for mobility.
Richcreek said the movement began at the University of Delaware with Dr. Cole Galloway. The mission of GBG is to “help empower individuals with the ability to co-create their world through mobility.”
According to Richcreek, meetings will begin Thursday, March 14 and will continue each Thursday with the purpose of introducing the recipients and their parents to those responsible for making the vehicle modifications. Responsible parties include STEM students with WCS, as well as key personnel from the community.
“DePuy is going to supply some volunteers,” said Richcreek, and “I will have a physical therapist, Aaron Turner, consulting. Sam Cook with WCS will also be volunteering to assist middle school students in building (the vehicles). We will be starting to develop ideas to modify these cars at this meeting. We will continue to build and modify these cars during the meetings.”
On Friday, May 3, a showcase event will be held at First Friday in downtown Warsaw.
The weekly Thursday meetings, slated for 2:50 p.m., will be held March 14, 21, April 11, 18, 25 and May 2 in the Edgewood Middle School STEM lab, 900 South Union St., Warsaw.
“The heart of this STEM project is the powered ride on cars found at your local toy store,” said Richcreek in the press release. “The STEM problem is that many children with movement delays cannot safely use these cars out of the box due to their balance limitations or their difficulty using the car’s controls. The solutions include a user-centered design approach to electrical and mechanical adaptations, including changes to the wiring as well as adding postural supports that will make these toys accessible.”