Tony in School

While he was in the EI Program, for long distance mobility he had a “dependent mobility device” – an adapted stroller adapted for Tony with postural supports, pushed by someone else. The stroller seat was too high off the ground for him to get into or out of independently, but was used to bring Tony to/from school on the bus.

While his family -- and many of the professional who worked with him -- wanted Tony to keep trying to walk, Tony wanted a faster way to get around. Fortunately for Tony, he had an imaginative therapist named Rachel who was a “What-if?” kind of thinker. What if Tony had access to a power chair?

Though not initially a natural born driver,, with lots of practice, lots of patience and lots of instruction from Rachel, Tony finally got it. He could safely stop and go in the chair using a joystick. At the age of 4 he showed he could safely control the chair in wide open areas and even in the smaller classroom setting in among all the other children, furniture and equipment.

Now, three years later, he is an old hand at driving his chair. When he arrived for the First Grade with his own set of wheels, he was a bit of a celebrity, but soon the novelty wore off and everyone in the class just expects Tony to lead the way – after all he is the fastest kid in the class!