Dayton Children's rehab patients get customized wheels at Go Baby Go! event

This weekend, Dayton Children’s and the University of Dayton (UD) hosted the annual Go Baby Go! event, a program that provides modified, ride-on cars to young children with disabilities so they can move around independently.  

Eight Dayton Children’s rehabilitation patients received customized cars at this year’s event. Students from UD along with Dayton Children’s physical therapists, occupational therapists and staff members from ortho rehabilitation and physical medicine and rehabilitation started early to modify the cars. They then fitted each child when they arrived before putting the finishing touches in place. Within minutes each child was zooming around the hospital lobby, getting used to the car and its controls. 

“Go Baby Go! is truly an amazingly unique experience that offers the gift of typical play and movement to children with disabilities,” said Deborah Mowery, MD, pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at Dayton Children's.

“Toy cars, or ride-ons as my children call them, are adapted to the specific needs of each child and the parents are given a remote control to help the child maneuver and stay safe. It is a win-win for the children and the families!” 

Go Baby Go! is a national workshop that harnesses the power of local volunteers to retrofit electric cars for children who have trouble walking or getting around. Each car receives adaptations personalized to the child, including push-button controls, headrests or back supports. This is the third year for the event at Dayton Children’s.  

Tim and Megan Reissman, assistant professors of mechanical engineering at the University of Dayton, brought the event to Dayton Children’s in June 2017, along with the Miami Valley Spina Bifida Organization. 

“As a physician, it is so wonderful to take a break from the medical side and just spend some time with these kids just being kids,” said Dr. Mowery. “The smiles they have from independent movement are simply priceless! The engineers and physical therapists that make this event possible are magical in the effect they have on these children!”