I think we all have memories about the day we learned how to ride a bike. The day our parents let go of the back of the bike and we did it on our own! It’s a wonderful sense of accomplishment that every child, every person should be so lucky to experience. According to a study done by the University of Michigan only 10-12% of individuals with Down syndrome learn to ride a bike. This summer the DSAF set out to beat those percentages and teach individuals with Down syndrome to ride with a bike camp funded by St. Mark's Lincoln Outreach Foundation and staffed by Handprints and Footsteps.
In this two week camp the children learned how to ride a bike step by step using an innovative strategy lead by therapists and volunteers. Starting with no pedals and working on balance they worked towards riding on their own. The participants worked hard and in a gymnasium full of smiles, cheers and goose bumps they learned to ride! I can tell you from personal experience the smiles and cheers were not just from the new bike riders but also from the volunteers, the therapists, parents, and siblings. The sense of accomplishment was felt by everyone there and it was sincerely heartwarming. Even those that weren’t going 100% on their own made huge strides to developing this new skill.
At the camp several children with Down syndrome proved once again that they can do anything anyone else can do! Sometimes it takes a bit longer and sometimes they need a little extra help but given the chance they CAN and they WILL!
Thank you to everyone that helped make this happen and congratulations to all our new riders!
Lori Tackett
Program Director
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