On Saturday, April 21, from 9 am – 2 pm, more than 40 students and faculty from The University of Dayton will volunteer to modify toy powered cars for children with mobility challenges, ages 2 to 7 years, at United Rehabilitation Services (URS). The event will take at URS, 4710 Old Troy Pike at Needmore in the center’s gymnasium.
A grant from the National Science Foundation will cover the cost of the Go Baby Go Project which purchases toy powered cars and the materials needed to make electrical and structural modifications to the cars like push-button controls and headrests so that children with developmental and acquired disabilities can explore their environments and experience the fun of using powered toy vehicles.
Tim and Megan Reissman, assistant professors of mechanical engineering at UD, will manage the team of volunteers who will modify the toy cars and personalize them for 10 children from URS’ Early Childhood Education and Therapy Programs. Occupational Therapists and teaching staff from URS will also volunteer during this event.
The schedule for the Go Baby Go event is:
9 am – 11:30 am: Volunteers will assemble the toy cars
Noon: Children and their parents meet with the physical and occupational therapists to determine the child’s needs and determine positioning.
12:30 pm: The engineering team will make the necessary modifications to the cars.
1:00-2:00 pm: Children will test drive the cars and if needed, further modifications will be made. Each family will take home a car at the end of the event!
Recent Comments