Laityn Blank takes a ride in the 12-Volt Jeep he was able to take home Friday through the GoBabyGo! program. Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-Union
Laityn Blank takes a ride in the 12-Volt Jeep he was able to take home Friday through the GoBabyGo! program. Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-Union
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Five toddlers weren’t able to show off their GoBabyGo! vehicles at Third Friday due to the weather. However, they were able to give them a try at Edgewood Middle School before taking them home.

During GoBabyGo!, 12-volt vehicles were modified for toddlers that have developmental disabilities. Each car was represented by a group of students with engineers from the community. Students collaborated with the engineers, redesigning and rebuilding the Jeeps.

EMS students worked in teams with mentors from Dalton, Grace College, DePuy, Zimmer Biomet and Paragon Medical. The teams worked on the Jeeps for several weeks in two-hour sessions.

During the modification process, the teams took into consideration what issues there are with the toddler and modify the Jeep accordingly.

Friday, the toddlers and family members met at Edgewood. Project Lead The Way teacher Abbi Richcreek said students who would worked on the Jeeps talked to parents about how the remote for the Jeep works and how to power the Jeep. The toddlers then rode the Jeeps around. After that, they took them home.

During the project, Richcreek said she believed her students learned how to work with others in a group and conference with mentors to develop a modified vehicle that will affect someone else’s life. There were obstacles during the modifying process, but she said students were able to work with mentors to find a solution. She hopes that students learned that when they fail, they don’t stop and try again to find a solution. She said sometimes you have to fail in order to succeed.

Richcreek said the benefits to the toddlers are they can be more independent and play outside.

Parents also weighed in on the program.

Tracy Allmon said she thought the Jeep would help her son Sylas greatly. Martin Allmon said he’s pretty sure having the Jeep will be fun for Sylas.

Parent Renee Case said the Jeep was awesome.

“It’s fun, it’s exciting. I love it because it’s purple and a cat,” she said.

Case said the process of working with the Edgewood students to modify the Jeep was fun. The students did a great job in listening to the needs daughter Ivy had. Students took those needs into consideration.

Case said she hopes Ivy gets to have fun with the Jeep and hopefully her older brother gets to drive her around.

Parent Leslie Blank said she thought the program was wonderful. She said the whole reason she moved to the area was to be in area that works with diversity.

She said the modification process with the Jeep was a very smooth process.

She hopes the Jeep brings son Laityn a little bit more independence.