Students from the East Cobb Middle School “Go Baby Go Club” recently designed and gave away customized, motorized vehicles for students with mobility needs.
The five modified vehicles, designed to assist youngsters with phyical disabilities to engage in a variety of school activities, were recently demonstrated in the ECMS parking lot.
According to a Cobb County School District release, “Go Baby Go” is “a national, community-based research, design, and outreach program that provides modified ride-on cars” for children who need help getting around.
“Kids with physical disabilities often experience play differently due to access issues,” said Dr. Jennifer Tumlin Garrett, a Cobb Schools Orthopedic Impairments Itinerant teacher.
“This impacts their ability to participate in activities with their peers and friends. Modifying these cars for each kid’s specific needs allows them to have a fun toy they can use in their neighborhood with other kids, whereas before, they just had to sit on the sidelines and watch. They can now be ACTIVE participants instead of passive participants.”
ECMS began the club after teachers Shannon Ventresca and Danielle Crabbe and a former school employee pitched the idea during Cobb Tank, an annual grant competition supporting innovation in Cobb Schools.
They received $5,000 to start the club and deliver at least six cars, but they’ve already raised enough to produce eight over the past two years. On Aug. 5, they delivered the first five vehicles to students who attend Murdock and Tritt elementary schools in East Cobb, along with the South Cobb Early Learning Center, Vaughn ES and Kemp ES.
The ECMS students added switches, joysticks, safety harnesses, and extra supports using PVC pipes and pool noodles on the new rides.
Team members include includes Abdul-Aziz Abaza, Shainne Balabuch, Sadie Culberson, Miguel Garcia, Sofia Letts, Brooklyn King, and Isaac Trzecieski, aided by ECMS ISS paraprofessional Anthony Ventresca.
“The reason I chose to join Go Baby Go is because we are helping people, and they work hard to make people’s lives better. Go Baby Go is also a family, and I want to be a part of that family,” said Balabuch, a 7th grader.
The ECMs Go Baby Go Club has an account at the school to accept donations, as well as a Walmart registry.
“We want to keep this program going forward to bring as many kids with limited mobility a Go Baby Go set of wheels and the freedom that comes with it,” said Shannon Ventresca.
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