This little boy has a genetic defect that reduces his motor function. He is unable to walk and because of their financial situation his family was unable to provide a customized wheelchair for him as it would cost a lot out of pocket since their insurance would not cover it. His father reached out to the local high school's robotics team and asked if they would build this 2 year old a car. They happily said yes and got to work. They created this chair from a Power Wheels car. They replaced the seat with a bike seat and added a seat belt to keep him safe. Removing the fancy electronics, they replaced it with a simple joystick so the boy would be able to move around easier. For extra safety, they added pool noodles around the base, a very common technique seen at actual robotics competitions to prevent damage. The financial savings from this vehicle was very beneficial to the family. Seeing the joy on the boy's face as he drove around made their hard work and effort 100% worth it according to the robotics team.
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3 comments:
I think that it's great that this young boy got the chance to have a personalized vehicle. It is unfortunate that the 2-year-old has a genetic condition that lessens his motor function, but the generosity of the local high school greatly helped the boy. This article emphasizes the unnecessarily high expenses of certain medical processes and items. It is not uncommon for families to struggle when items such as prosthetics or like in the article, motorized wheelchairs are out of their price range. Not only does this family take advantage of extremely intelligent members of their community, but the robotics team obviously holds much innovation and creativity to create a car for the 2-year-old. The robotics team most likely had other ways they could be using their time, so it is very kind of them to go out of their way to help members of their local community so a little boy could move around on his own.
After reading this article, I really thought that it was really thoughtful and great that the high school robotics team made this vehicle. Although they didn't earn any funding for it, I was really touched on how they were happy to make this vehicle. The vehicle was very important for the young boy and probably would have encountered issues if he did not get his wheelchair. It's not everyday where schools do something for their community that can really impact their lives. What that high school did that day, almost without a doubt made a impact in that family's lives that they would probably remember for the rest of their life. Instead of only focusing on their own personal interests, they helped out their community and set up a great example for those in other communities.
This article really brightens up my day. It is a concern that the improvement of technology over time may cause a negative impact on our lives, but little things like this that require advanced technology can also be extremely beneficial and efficient. Not only does this case emphasize the importance of technology and how it can dramatically change someone’s life, but it is also significant in that this chair design was created by regular high-school students. The fact that these teenagers are putting in the effort to influence one child’s life showcases the idea that they can possibly make a good impact on the future. The thought of creating this wheelchair was truly amusing genuine, allowing me to believe that there are still people out there that are willing to do good for others.
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