A 3-year-old girl who is paralyzed from the knees down will now be able to get around a little easier thanks to a group of college students in Maine.Students from the University of Southern Maine (USM) teamed up with Go Baby Go to gift an adaptive toy car to a girl named Claire, who has spina bifida.Claire and her mother were presented with the car on Tuesday at USM’s health care education campus in Lewiston, Maine.The car is unique to Claire’s needs and is painted yellow, her favorite color. The car has also been decorated with stickers.Claire’s mother said she is happy to see her daughter get to play like other children.”I know for a lot of people it’s just a car. But for Claire, it’s really special because she can do it on her own,” said Samantha Fortier Steward. “She can keep up with the other kids, and she can do a lot of things, get to a lot of places in our yard, specifically that she couldn’t get to before. It’s just special.”A USM student who worked on the project said she thinks the car will help improve Claire’s independence.Families who have a child with a disability can contact USM’s occupational therapy program to join the waitlist.
A 3-year-old girl who is paralyzed from the knees down will now be able to get around a little easier thanks to a group of college students in Maine.
Students from the University of Southern Maine (USM) teamed up with Go Baby Go to gift an adaptive toy car to a girl named Claire, who has spina bifida.
Claire and her mother were presented with the car on Tuesday at USM’s health care education campus in Lewiston, Maine.
The car is unique to Claire’s needs and is painted yellow, her favorite color. The car has also been decorated with stickers.
Claire’s mother said she is happy to see her daughter get to play like other children.
“I know for a lot of people it’s just a car. But for Claire, it’s really special because she can do it on her own,” said Samantha Fortier Steward. “She can keep up with the other kids, and she can do a lot of things, get to a lot of places in our yard, specifically that she couldn’t get to before. It’s just special.”
A USM student who worked on the project said she thinks the car will help improve Claire’s independence.
Families who have a child with a disability can contact USM’s occupational therapy program to join the waitlist.
