High schoolers use STEM skills to give kids with disabilities more freedom and fun

Zeke Young sped down the hallways of Southport High School in his car with a big smile across his face as his mother controlled it from behind with a remote control.

Ride-on electric cars are a common toy for young kids like Zeke, but his car isn’t like most kids’.

Since Zeke has spina bifida he is unable to use his legs fully, so his car has a button on the steering wheel and a remote control that moves the car.

Zeke's family didn't order this custom-made car, but rather a group of Southport High School students made it.

Southport High School’s mini-movers club helps kids who have mobility issues and other disabilities by designing electric cars to fit their needs.

Katie Essex, a junior at Southport, created the club when she was a freshman and said she was inspired to start it after seeing a similar model at IUPUI called GoBabyGo!

“It's one of those things where (the children) can't use the toy the way that it was built and we would really love for them to be able to operate and have the mobility of anyone," Essex told IndyStar.

Seven remodeled cars, including Zeke’s, were presented to families last week at Southport High School’s “Night of Engineering.”

Zeke’s mother, Rebecca Young, said receiving a toy like this means a lot to their family.

“He gets to see his older brother use things like bicycles and skateboards all the time, but he can’t necessarily use all of those,” Young told IndyStar. “Now this is going to give him a lot more autonomy.”

Essex started the club in the second year of the pandemic. She had a lot of goals, she said, and didn’t want COVID-19 hindering her.

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“I really view coming into high school and doing different things in high school as my way to open up and learn new things,” Essex said. “Starting this club was really my first entry point into STEM and once I had heard about this project and I saw how happy the kids were, I just knew this was something I needed to do.”

The club is a combination of Southport’s robotics team and students from Greenwood High School’s robotics team.

The students help build and modify the cars using the school’s 3D printers to custom design parts, and along the way learn engineering skills like wiring and design.

Essex said she raised over $2,000 to get the club started and in their first year the club modified one car. Now in their third year, they have modified seven cars.

The club has raised money to buy supplies by selling 3D-printed keychains but also relies on donated materials such as gently used cars.

The high schoolers also work with Perry Township elementary students to help design the look of the car after hearing what the child’s interests are. Many of the cars come with custom lighting and special decals like Disney princesses or Marvel superheroes.

Essex, who is graduating early and plans to pursue a pilot's license at Purdue University, said she has created a five-year plan for the club and hopes they can keep producing more cars for kids in the future.

The high schoolers work with the families who want to participate in the program in finding what car would best suit them and then what modifications and decorations they would like on the car.

Some of the most common modifications are putting buttons on the steering wheel for kids to operate the car, creating a more supportive seat, adding safety harnesses to the inside and creating a remote control for parents to use as well.

Essex said they work with the kid’s physical therapist when thinking about including things like joysticks and extra buttons to help the kids practice their fine motor skills.

“We want to do those things that benefit them not only for play but also for physical therapy,” Essex said.

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For Brynlee Aydelotte’s parents, the remote control abilities means it gives them more freedom and flexibility.

“This is going to let us have a bit more ease and relaxation so we can go on a walk and we don’t have to worry about a wheelchair,” Nate Aydelotte, Brynlee’s father, told IndyStar.

Brynlee has cerebral palsy which means she can’t use her legs, but another modification to the car is a joystick, which her family hopes that with time and physical therapy she will be able to use.

“Most importantly, it will let her just be a kid,” Aydelotte said.

Contact IndyStar reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 or CBeck@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @CarolineB_Indy. 

Caroline’s work is supported by Report for America and Glick Philanthropies. As part of its work in Marion County, Glick Philanthropies partners with organizations focused on closing access and achievement gaps in education. 

Report for America is a program of The GroundTruth Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening local newsrooms. Report for America provides funding for up to half of Caroline’s salary during her time with us, and IndyStar is fundraising the remainder.  

To learn more about how you can support IndyStar’s partnership with Report for America and to make a donation, visit indystar.com/RFA.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Southport High club gives kids with disabilities more freedom and fun