Balance can be a huge challenge for children with special needs. The equilibrium it takes to ride a two-wheeled bicycle can seem beyond many of these kids' abilities, creating another barrier between themselves and their peers.
That's why I was glad to see the Easter Seals of Northern California was sponsoring an “immersion” camp this year to teach bicycling to children with special needs.
The camp and systematic approach to teach two-wheeled cycling was created by a retired mechanical engineer from St. Louis, Richard Klein, who holds similar camps around the country. His program is called “Lose the Training Wheels.”
Teach themselves
At this week's bicycle camp in Marin County, founder Richard Klein said the program helps kids overcome their fear of speed and falling. He told the Marin Independent Journal:
“We don't teach the children how to ride a bike. We let them discover it. We give them the environment for that 'Aha!' moment.”
The kids start on an adapted bicycle whose wheels are replaced with rollers, making it easier to ride without tipping. As the participants — ages 8 to 22 — improve their balance, they ride bicycles that are more and more difficult to balance until they're riding a standard bike.
Inclusion
What's the big deal about riding a bike? It's a matter of inclusion for special needs kids. Left out of so much already, children who can't ride are left behind by their peers.
At his website, Klein explains:
Benefits of riding a two-wheeler include an infectious smile, peer inclusion, building of self-esteem, family lifestyle enhancement, increased activity and mobility, increased cognitive stimulation, and better physical fitness.
Without question, significant numbers of children and adults are presently unable to master bike riding, and this causes degradation in lifestyle, self-esteem, and well-being.
Organization
The camps have been growing in recent years. Just 13 week-long camps were held in 2004. In 2006 that grew to 33 camps in 18 states, reaching some 2,000 children.
Originally named Rainbow Trainers, the group expanded to include educators, parents and business persons and changed its name to Lose the Training Wheels. Based in McLean, Va., it plans to apply for a 501(C)3 designation from the Internal Revenue Service.
If you have children with special needs or if you're involved in a school or agency that deals with those issues, Lose the Training Wheels is definitely worth a look.
Update 1/12/08 — Also, I just stumbled across this video news report from a Portland TV station at YouTube.
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