Lexus and cerebral palsy foundation team up to create child’s accessible ride-on vehicle
Lexus and Cerebral Palsy Foundation Partner to Create Custom Ride-On Vehicle
Lexus and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF) collaborated to design a custom ride-on vehicle for children with cerebral palsy. Combining Lexus’ human-centered design with CPF’s mission, the partnership aimed to improve the lives of children with cerebral palsy.
“Children with cerebral palsy often don’t receive the timely support they need,” said Rachel Byrne, CPF’s executive director. “Our goal was to change that through innovative partnerships.”
One of the major obstacles for children with cerebral palsy is mobility, which prevents them from playing and exploring like other children.
“At Lexus, we focus on human-centered design,” said Cooper Ericksen, Lexus’ vice president of product planning and strategy. “We wanted to provide children with cerebral palsy the same joy of movement that other kids experience.”
In March, Lexus and CPF presented the customized ride-on vehicle to Finley Smallwood during National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. They addressed specific mobility challenges Finley and other children face. Modifications included side padding for better lateral support, an adjustable headrest, a five-point harness, larger doors, and a lower ground clearance for easy access. Traditional steering wheels and foot pedals are difficult for many children with cerebral palsy to use. Instead, Lexus added a joystick to the armrest, allowing Finley to control direction and speed. This simple change gave her the freedom to drive independently.
“We painted the car purple, Finley’s favorite color,” Ericksen added.
This project impacted Finley’s life and opened the door to new possibilities for human-centered design.
The partnership was powered by Givewith. To watch Finley’s journey, visit: https://givewith.com/lexus-cp.
GoBabyGo: Providing Independence for Children with Disabilities
GoBabyGo offers modified, ride-on cars to children with disabilities, enabling them to explore independently. Founded by Professor Cole Galloway at the University of Delaware, the program has grown to include volunteers in over 40 communities worldwide. The modified cars provide children with mobility disabilities the opportunity to play and socialize. Studies show that when children can move independently, they experience developmental benefits in areas like cognitive, motor, and social skills. GoBabyGo offers an affordable solution compared to expensive power wheelchairs. These cars cost around $200, which is significantly more accessible than traditional mobility devices, allowing children to enjoy freedom at a younger age.
Start Your Own Program
To learn how to start a program or find a contact in your area, visit: Go Baby Go Contact List.