Features

GoBabyGo! Club Drives Towards Mobility for Disabled Children

Isabel Gerheim
Lauren Simpson and Midaelle Phanor of GoBabyGo! advertise at the fall involvement fair and display one of their electronic cars. Photo provided by Wilda Kaylor.

By MAXWELL REESE

Electric toy cars are not the first thing that comes to mind when looking to improve the lives of children with disabilities. However, the members of Seton Hill University’s GoBabyGo! Club transform these toys into life-changing tools for both mobility and play. 

“The mission statement of GoBabyGo! is to ‘Encourage equal peer and community involvement by modifying electronic vehicles in a personalized fashion to facilitate this for each child,’” said Erica Fraling, vice chair of GoBabyGo! and third year student in Seton Hill’s doctor of physical therapy (DPT) program. 

“We order electronic battery powered toy jeeps online and once we receive them we rewire them to make them drivable and functionable for the children,” said Cristen Harris, chair of GoBabyGo! and third year DPT student.

Harris provided further details of the modifications the club members make to the toy cars. For example, some vehicles have their gas pedal rewired to a button on the steering wheel for children unable to use their lower limbs. 

“The parents are also given remote controls so they can control the car as well,” said Harris, “There is also a kill switch installed in the back of the jeep to turn the jeep completely off.”

“[People] can support by attending GoBabyGo! meetings that are virtual just to get some information about the club and … upcoming events,” said Lauren Simpson, fundraiser chair of GoBabyGo! and third year DPT student. “They could sign up to either become a member or just a volunteer. 

“I would recommend someone who wants to support the group to contribute in any way, participate and bring as much awareness as possible to the club to bring even more support,” said Fraling.

“I decided to join GoBabyGo! because I enjoy working with the pediatric population and wanted to help make a difference in children and their families’ lives for the better,” said Fraling. “I feel that my group has been able to accomplish a lot by putting in the work to help fundraise the funds needed to purchase the cars and taking … the time to modify them.”