Physical Therapy Assistant students empower children with disabilities through Go Baby Go

Students in Utah Tech University’s Physical Therapy Assistant program and the University of Utah’s Physical Therapy program gave the gift of mobility this holiday season by customizing and gifting electric kids’ cars to area children with mobility disabilities through the Go Baby Go initiative.

The event took place Saturday at Stephen Wade Truck Center and provided eight children from St. George and Cedar City with new means of transportation — personalized cars that accommodated each individual child’s needs.

“Go Baby Go is a way that we, as a program, can give back to the community,” Burke Jorgensen, an instructor at Utah Tech and associate professor at the University of Utah, said. “As we modify these cars, we are providing a way for these children to choose to move instead of passively being carried or pushed all day. That independence makes all the difference in that child’s development and it changes the family’s life.”

Utah Tech participated in the Go Baby Go program for the sixth time, thanks to a donation of $4,000 from the Wade Family Foundation. This was also the first year that Go Baby Go was completely student-run.

Students first met with the children in October, where they had an evaluation that covered everything from the children’s interests to their goals with their physical therapists. All of the cars were modified with these goals and interests in mind, with many including stability features such as a harness and padding, go buttons instead of pedals, and a remote control for the parents to easier facilitate some movement.

“It will help Maddox to be more active, especially outside,” Greg Turnbeaugh, Maddox’s grandpa, said. Maddox has a rare condition called arthrogryposis, which causes joint stiffness and immobility. “We love playing outside as a family, so this will be great coupled with the physical therapy aspects of the car.”

Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical therapy Education, Utah Tech’s Physical Therapist Assistant program is focused on preparing students and building excellence in human interaction, technical skills, critical reasoning, and life-long, hands-on learning, like Go Baby Go.

For more information about Utah Tech University’s Physical Therapist program, visit health.utahtech.edu/physical-therapist-assistant.