Bikes Boost Kids with Special Needs

(CBS)  Learning how to ride a bike is a rite of passage that's often out of reach for some kids.

Less than 20 percent of kids with autism - and just 10 percent of those with Down's Syndrome - learn to ride a bike, according to the University of Michigan.

CBS News Correspondent Seth Doane reports an annual week-long camp at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor helps kids face their fears and lets researchers learn how success here can translate to other parts of their lives.

Learn More about "Lose the Training Wheels" Organization


Learn More about the University of Michigan program


"It gives you a way to become more independent, to become more social," Michigan researcher Dale Ulrich said. "Those are the two characteristics that children with Down's Syndrome and autism need to improve on."

When they first arrive, many of the kids don't have the balance or the strength to ride a bike, but they do have the will. Developing that will is the point of this program.

"I wanted to learn. Now I did," said Lydia Brattin.

That leaves her dad, Vincent Brattin, beaming.

"Bike riding is one of the basic childhood skills," said Brattin. "It's just another one of the things that everybody - quotation marks - 'everyone normal' does."

Caryn Pack Ivey wondered why children with disabilities - like her son Jared - are often underestimated.

"Some people are only interested in seeing children with disabilities learn how to take care of themselves and do laundry and wash dishes," Ivey said. "And there is a lot more to life than doing laundry and washing dishes."

After watching her son ride for the first time, his mother Caryn said "it was emotional."

Jared did not need to say a thing. His smile said it all.

More than three-quarters of the 80 campers were up and riding by the end of the week.

"I'm going to have to get back into it myself," said Vincent Brattin.
"It'll do me some good."

Sometimes we all need a little extra encouragement.

[janicenino]

What a boring fluff piece! Lose the Training Wheels is a really interesting program. The reporter left out the interesting part--why it works. If this had been my introduction, the program wouldn't have sounded enough like it would be successful that I would have bothered to drive my son across the state to take it. Fortunately, my introduction explained exactly why it would be the perfect program for my son, and I knew it would work. He took the program, maybe three years ago, and was riding without training wheels on the second day. (He was making no progress in this area at home, even though he had been riding with training wheels for years.) I totally recommend Lose the Training Wheels, but as for your coverage of it, well, I can't say the same. (I also want to say I agree with frostycat on where credit is due. The man who created this program and his wife and any other staff who travel around the country with/for him, putting on these programs, deserve the most credit. Second would be the volunteers in each location who help them ou, then the school.)

[Kosharey]

Adjunct tool to the LTTW program -- Pedal-free Balance Learning Bikes

I spoke with the researcher at U. of Mich (Dale Ulrich) a few years ago when he was doing 'table-top' treadmill work with Down Syndrome toddlers and we were preparing for a presentation called "The Challenging of Raising a Cyclist in 21st Century America" at the 2007 Velo-City conference.

We were reporting on two years of work with our Balance Learning Bike/programs in North America based on the natural and intuitive process of learning center of gravity and coordination at the neuro-typical, age-appropriate period.

Dr. Ulrich was looking for cognitive gains with early and consistent gait training interventions.

We are strongly allied with the goals of this research as we have seen the potent therapeutic benefits of children with ambulatory or neurologic challenges/impairments routinely use pedal-free balance learning bikes (accessible to 2-5 year olds) with profound results.


Our pedal-free Glider Riders typically engage children in the autism spectrum quite a few years earlier in their development than the LTTW program and provide a vehicle that permits balance center and bilateral stimulation at a pace that the children themselves completely control.

It would be a nice adjunct tool to the LTTW program.

Pehaps it could be called "Never Use Training Wheels in the First Place" ;-).

Randy Eady, M.Ed, NCC
Back2Life and O-2-B-4-Again Inter-generational Balance
& Movement Programs
gliderrider.com
seatandfeet.com
http://www.facebook.com/o2b4again
Dedicated to applying the principle that it's never too late to grow into a child again!

[devilfly1]

Hi,

I was surfing around the website. I found an interesting website for everyone who has physical challenge (disabilities), such as autism, ADD, AHAD, and other different impairments.

Here is the official website: www.babybumblebee.com

In the meantime, Enjoy the surf!

[barbaram99]

I was given a bike years ago. I tried to ride it. Being legally blind with other handicaps. I could never ride it. Scott, We used to live in yer city. Scott is right the buses are poor where he lives. I hunt and peek and poorly schooled. The reason I can't ride a bike is blindness and C/P. I am 54. Scutt brings up good points. There was a day when rents,food, the basics were reasonable. Greed. I know nothing of AS. I live with a friend and we share an apt. we am on fixed incomes. Sp needs children grow up to be sp needs adults.

[frostycat]

It's to bad your reporter didn't get the facts straight. The camp is the product of Loose the Training Wheels. The University was only a sponsor. All of the credit for the specialty designed and engineered bicycles should have been credited to LTTW, no credit was given in your on air piece. The real credit goes to the hard working men and women who direct the camps. These real heros travel from city to city, coast to coast, all summer driving thousands of miles putting on these camps. That'a a story that should be part of Making a Difference on Friday.

[golfing_rcks]

I volunteer for this organization for both weeks annually when it comes to my home town. It is amazing helping these children learn to ride and it's a great feeling when they get past the beginning rollers and on to real bikes!
Great story to report on! it is fu hearing about the successes of other camps from around the country!!

[1abcdefg]

DEar Mr.Doan and Ms.Couric :I Saw this article tonight and I am affected with Aspergers syndrom and will be 50 years old on 15 Sept 09 I learned to ride a bike ,swim Science and Technology that mother who asks why only washuing dishes or laundry and why these kids are underestimated this is why the Vocational Rehabilitation is not set for people on Autsm spectrum it is set mainly for lower functioning and downs syndrom to put in the work shops and group homes as a kid I was treated by my mother who was a single mother in the 1960s and 70s when the adivice of time put your son in an institution we were poor mom could not afford an home for me and the state institutions were no better than dog pounds in school I was best at science,shop,Math poorly inenglisha and writting (Much Frustration) there were no special ed classes then I Barly Graduated HIgh school I did catchon to reading from the KC star to Prescritpion lables I have training in Moretuary science but cant find a Funeral home who would let me be an embalmer and not have to drive to pick up the remains or in the fueral procession that is 1 skill I cant catch onto Driviong a car the eye hand coordination is lacking my education and training is CHemistry,Manufacturing/Machining can read a MIcrometer,caliuoper and other precision measuring instruments and do the Math
because of the affects of the Aspergers I dont do well in job interviews or networking I have not had a job in 10 years and not had an interview in7 years never mind I had a 3.95GPA esep in the sciences/technology also kansas City,Missouri does not have a good transportatiion system so I cant work a 2nd or 3rd shift I nneed a job on a busline the problem is there is no resources for adults with Autism if you dont come from a family with money theres nothing V.R Wants nothing to do woith you accept put on medicactin their goals get a case get it deat ASAP and move also a civil service little incetive to produce get to retirement benefits. Growing up I ran into manmy problems with interacting with the other kids I was Taunted and not befirended somke of this even today though taunted excluded why no job 1the 1 everbody would go to for help with science but no friendship or help in employment and VR blames the victom
I have other training as a Pharmacy TEchnician but a hospital wont hire me neither wiill a retail place fears of liability which is groundless if any good can be said of Aspergers is the drive to do the job right may come off as "intense" and scare people I did lose a Hospital job charlotte as I would not give dirty equiptmenmt to 2 nurses ansd I was accused of threateninmg them this is normal for people with ASspergers and even the economy is good we are at a 95% to 99% unemployed or degrees but doing the Menial stuff as we dont interview well what is needed is more adult services and have same opportunities job wise as a felon would get but this costs money and the same people who will vote a sales TAX to fund a stadium or help a vetern have a house built (A goodthing) will in same breath sighn a petition to keep a group home and workshop out of neightbourhood and not give hifunctioning people with Aspergers a job and wont offer oppotrtunities and at same time say we are burdens as we have to be on SSDI (Sociasl security Disability Incom) wich is not near to be able to live on at 50 Y/O again I had give up my apartment amd move back home with parents who are in their 70s and once again whats going to happen when they die as 1 have sister cant take me in and another Brother and sister who wont have any thing to do with me but again I have skills in science,Manufacturing as well as medical and I am Employable but again where doe s a 50Y/O person wioth Aspergers get a job and be accepted in todays economy we cant blame the recessioin as people on the Autism spectrum
have been 1st fired last hired since before as Neurotypicals dont want to deal with us butif you would take time to get to know us we are good people who have a work ethic we might be a little "odd"but wrong with diversity any way? it is good that these in the story can ride bikes and benefits derived but they like me are only kids under the law for 21 years what about the next44 working years and beyond when like my self we are going to outlive our parents we too need jobs and have a future better than being offered / allowed and many of us have educations we may not "get" Beowulf or shakessphere but we are the ons who can tell you how a jet engin works or how a Hurricane works etc we are gifted in other things as you can I would not make it as a typist or officwe worker but I can do other things from SAFTLY filliong your prescription to able to learn CNC etc My name is Scott A.Wade
5437 N.Askew AQvw Kansas City,Missouri 64119 816-413-8814 and [e-mail]

[devilfly1]

Thumbs UP!

Good news and a program!

I felt good and remembered my first bicycle ride with my uncle.

I do believe it requires a lot of head, eye, and body coordinated while riding the bike.