Three students from the Billings Career Center in Montana, United States, have designed and built an adapted toy car for Calliope Lindau, a 4-year-old girl affected by Williams syndrome. This moving act is part of the Go Baby Go program, a school initiative that seeks to provide mobility and joy to children with disabilities.
Students Kai Pohlman, Ainsley Lennick and Elijah McCoun, as part of the Go Baby Go independent study program, set out to not only create a toy car, but also customize it according to Lindau’s tastes and needs, since due to her condition You experience limitations in the movement of your legs.
The goal of the Go Baby Go program is to reach disabled people in the community, especially children, and include them in experiences that other children enjoy without restrictions.
Lennick explained the detailed selection process: “We talked to all the adults in her life and figured out what aspects we needed to include in the car and what would be best for her.” From there, contact is made with physical therapists to ensure specific adaptations.
The toy car, designed with pink and purple decorative elements, has special features to support Calliope’s physical therapy. From the pedal modification to the inclusion of floor buttons that play music when her feet press down, every detail was thought out to improve mobility and provide a fun experience.
Pohlman stressed the importance of using the car as a tool to strengthen the weakest parts of a girl’s body. “It’s encouraging to use the parts that are weaker to strengthen them, especially when the option is that one day they will be able to use their legs normally,” she said.
The emotional impact of this project became evident on delivery day. Lennick recalled the moment Calliope saw the car for the first time: “As soon as she saw it, she ran up to the car and threw herself on the hood and just said, ‘My car princess, I love it.’”
Professor Eric Anderson, head of the program, highlighted the gratification that students obtain by making a tangible difference in the lives of those who receive these adapted vehicles. “It is very rewarding for my students to see that they have made a difference in the life of the recipient of the car,” he said.
This project not only demonstrates the talent and empathy of the students involved, but also highlights the essential role of education in the community. As these young engineers continue their work at Go Baby Go, it is hoped that more children with disabilities will benefit from this initiative.