Students and faculty in the Occupational Therapy program at Belmont University recently traveled to Permobil’s corporate headquarters in Lebanon, Tennessee to help outfit custom-fit toy cars for children with mobility impairments as part of the Go Baby Go program. The event was covered by reporter Matt Masters of the Lebanon Democrat with a feature article in the newspaper, excerpted below.
From the Lebanon Democrat:
Permobil and the Permobil Foundation welcomed occupational therapy students and researchers from Belmont University and Vanderbilt University to their U.S. corporate headquarters in Lebanon on Friday where they built custom-fit toy cars to improve the day-to-day lifestyles of children with mobility impairments as part of the Go Baby Go program.Seven cars were assembled and outfitted with custom accessories to make operating the vehicles easier for each child, from 9 months to 3 years old, who have different needs based on their physical impairments.
Foam pool noodles, duct tape, wire cutters and hot glue guns were just some of the tools used to help volunteers soup-up the plastic, battery-powered yellow Mini Coopers, Jeeps and Red Fliers and their drivers to the next level of mobility.
Teresa Plummer, researcher and associate professor of occupational therapy at Belmont University, led the team of volunteers. She said the Permobil headquarters played host to the project for two years. Plummer said the Go Baby Go program began about 10 years ago in the University of Delaware, and Permobil was instrumental to help the local chapter help children in Middle Tennessee advance their mobility skills and functions.