OT department co-hosts mobility workshop for children with disabilities

UT Health San Antonio Department of Occupational Therapy was proud to partner with Children's Rehabilitation Institute of Teleton USA (CRIT USA) on the first “Go Baby Go” workshop in San Antonio on October 17, 2015.

Go Baby Go is a program that provides modified, ride-on cars to young children with disabilities so they can move more independently. “Mobility is very important for children, they learn by exploring their environment,” said Ana Allegretti, Ph.D., assistant professor of occupational therapy in the School of Health Professions and one of the coordinators of the Go Baby Go workshop.

“We believe the use of the cars will help improve children’s social, cognitive, social and physical development,” Allegretti said.

During the event, therapists and parents learned how to modify and adapt the toy cars for each child who attended the workshop. Each family was able to keep the car after the workshop. “The parents loved being able to see their child drive the car,” said Allegretti. “They were so proud of their children and everyone was having fun.”

Allegretti lead the car-building workshop along with Go Baby Go founder, Cole Galloway, Ph.D., PT and CRIT USA Treatment Manager, Marlyn Cabrera, MD. Eight students from the occupational therapy department volunteered at the event.

Allegretti’s long-term goals for the project is to host more events in San Antonio to help additional families. “We also plan to develop research projects to further investigate the benefits of early mobility intervention in children,” said Allegretti. “This is a project that has the potential to benefit numerous children with physical impairments and their families.”

For additional media coverage on the event, please use the links below:

San Antonio Express-News: “On the move at Go Baby Go workshop”

KSAT: “Go Baby Go event held in San Antonio”