June 26, 2023 - A group of students in Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Physical Therapy in the College of Health Professions, was part of a volunteer project this month to help meet the needs of patients with significant mobility impairment at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHOR).

Created by VCU Physical Therapy alumnus, Cole Galloway in 2006, the program is known as “Go Baby Go,” a national, community-based research, design and outreach program that provides modified ride-on cars to children, and the experience of independent mobility. The project generally involves one “build day,” of refashioning the individual cars, followed by a second day, in which volunteers present the cars to the children.

The children are identified by therapists at CHOR, who obtain the cars through grant funding from the VCU Auxiliary. Lucille O’Neil, D.P.T., and Katy Smotrys, D.P.T, both physical therapists at CHOR, have been volunteers with the project for several years. O’Neil credits the VCU Auxiliary for making this project possible.

There are seven different locations where the therapists treat patients with various developmental disabilities and they are able to identify children as potential candidates. Some of the children are referred from different therapy programs at the clinics, partnering pediatric programs, members of the community, and even children’s extended family members. Once referred, the therapists evaluate each child to assess their skills, take measurements, and determine the appropriate equipment needed.  

“We send notices out to all the therapists at CHOR, and we encourage speech therapists, occupational therapists, and all the different disciplines to get involved because they each have their own perspective on patients,” said O’Neil. “We really love the collaboration of everybody involved.”

Peter Pidcoe, P.T., D.P.T., Ph.D, director of the engineering and biomechanics lab, and professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, has been involved in “Go Baby Go” since its inception. He says the program is rewarding on a number of levels, in particular, the student education piece.

“Our primary job is to educate students, and this provides a real-world opportunity to do that,” said Pidcoe. “You also can’t rule out what the kids and families get from this. These are kids who are not mobile, and not old enough to be in an electric wheelchair, but these cars allow them to go out and play with their peers in vehicles that their peers are using. Giving kids the opportunity to mobilize and be in control really does affect their development in a very positive way.”

Alex Maynor is a rising second year student in the physical therapy program, who participated in the June event, as well as one in February. He says one of the families he spoke with during the February build, was so ecstatic about the idea of their child having the opportunity to go out into the environment, hang out with other kids, and just be in a normal situation.

As the service chair for his class, Maynor receives information about different opportunities in which students are able to participate. 

“In these past two years I've seen a lot of participation from our classmates, and I am really proud of them for coming out and doing these things,” said Maynor. “It means a lot to me to be able to help someone get out into the community and be functional. “This is going to make a big impact in their community and their individual lives.”

Organizers are planning the next “Go Baby Go” build for fall 2023. For more information, contact Lucille O’Neil at Lucille.ONeil@vcuhealth.org.

By Malorie Burkett, mgburkett@vcu.edu

VCU College of Health Professions