BOLIVAR, Mo. – Serving others is at the heart of the mission for the faculty, staff, and doctor of physical therapy students at Southwest Baptist University.
SBU’s DPT department hosted an event on Nov. 4 called “Go Baby Go” to provide mobility
opportunities for local children with disabilities.
The project was developed by Cole Galloway, a physical therapy researcher at the University of Delaware. The idea is to take a battery-operated toy car, build in extra support for a child who may not be able to sit independently, and modify the activator switch so the child can operate it by using a hand- or head-activated switch.
“Research has shown that finding ways to help kids be independently mobile improves their expressive language and social interaction, and does not reduce their potential for eventually walking,” said Dr. Sarah Jones, associate professor of physical therapy at SBU.
This fall, SBU DPT students modified four battery-operated toy cars to make them more
accessible for children who cannot operate a foot pedal or steer by themselves. Modifications
often include replacing the foot pedal with a hand- or head-activated pedal that powers
the car and almost always involves building a better support seating system 
including the seatbelt, head support and roll bars.
Pairing a motor skill with immediate reward helps promote a child’s exploration, Jones said, otherwise, they can become passive.
“Seeing a child begin to realize that they are the ones making that car move, and the way that changes their facial expressions or their vocalizations; that’s a sweet moment,” Jones said.
Jones said that Delaware produced its “Go Baby Go” manuals free of charge for those who are interested in the project in an effort to encourage communities to participate and promote a grass-roots, low-tech effort.
“We are excited to see where this project goes,” Jones said. “I am hopeful to do a build project each year, if not each semester, and partner with the community to provide mobility for children of all abilities.”
SBU’s DPT students provided the labor, but relied on the financial support of local individuals, businesses and sponsors, including Super Lube, Jim Rush Auto and Chuck’s Auto Supply.
“This is a project that gets to the heart of what physical therapy is all about,” Jones said. “We want our patients to be mobile, but not just for the sake of moving – it’s more about using functional mobility to help kids explore and participate in their world.”
For more information about the “Go Baby Go” project and SBU physical therapy, contact Jones at (417) 328-1673 or sarahjones@SBUniv.edu.
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Photo 1: SBU DPT students discuss wiring options for a hand-activated switch. (From left): Breck Mitchell, Garrett Dutton, Casey Curtis and Hannah Herbert.
Photo 2: SBU DPT students present Jesse Wells with his modified car. (From left, clockwise): Kayla Sanders, Dami Alao, Bonnie Wells, Jeremy Wells, Melody Hanson and Nicole Hoch.
*Published: 11-29-17