from staff
Wolfson Children’s Rehabilitation is sponsoring its first “Bike-Ability Blast.” The event is an adapted bicycle rally that will allow children with special needs such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, developmental delays and other physical limitations to actually test-ride adapted bicycles.
The “Bike-Ability Blast” will become an annual event. This year’s event will be held from 2-6 p.m. April 25 at the Drew Bradbury Center, located in the Aetna Building.
Adapted bicycles are available for all ages and all disabilities and include such features as high back and head supports, straps to secure feet, arm pedals for those who can’t pedal with their legs, a device that allows shoulder steering, head control support, parent steering and braking controls and more. The bikes can also be adapted to the child’s size as he or she grows.
“These bikes let kids with disabilities do something normal,” says Elisabeth Federico, PT, a physical therapist at Wolfson Rehab and the “Bike-Ability Blast” coordinator.
While helpful for special needs children, the specialized bikes are expensive, costing up to $3,000. Insurance companies don’t pay for these bikes, so the “Bike-Ability Blast” gives parents and children an opportunity to examine and test-drive an adapted bicycle before buying one. Information for funding resources will also be available at the event to parents.
The “Bike-Ability Blast” is also a chance for business or private sponsors to provide funding for bicycles for children who might not otherwise be able to afford one.
Safe Kids Northeast Florida/Wolfson Children’s Hospital will provide free helmets and giveaways for children attending the event, and information on bicycle safety will be provided. Adapted bicycle vendors, including Freedom Concepts, Reha Partners, Triaid, Tri-Lo and others, will have their bikes on display.
For more information about the “Bike-Ability Blast” or how you or your business can help to fund an adapted bicycle for a child, call Wolfson Rehab at 346-0394.