Valparaiso University students in the occupational therapy program at the College of Nursing and Health Professions and the bioengineering major at the College of Engineering are joining forces to launch a GoBabyGo organization in Northwest Indiana this spring. The program’s mission is to increase mobility and quality of life for children with limited access to services in their developmental years.
“I'm passionate about bringing high quality healthcare and services to the Northwest Indiana region,” said Theresa Carroll, OTD, OTR/L, clinical associate professor of occupational therapy. “Families should not have to travel to Indianapolis or Chicago to meet their needs. There is great knowledge and expertise locally at Valpo, and we are committed to using that knowledge and expertise to benefit our community.”
GoBabyGo is best known for its modified, commercially available ride-on cars for children with disabilities. Students from the College of Engineering and the College of Nursing and Health Professions will extend this mission by collaborating with children and local families to modify those mini-cars so that they capitalize on the children’s strengths while meeting their physiological needs.
GoBabyGo Valpo is now accepting applications for children who could benefit from an adapted ride-on vehicle to support their mobility. The application is available here. For more information about GoBabyGo Valpo, contact Professor Theresa Carroll, OTD, OTR/L at theresa.carroll@valpo.edu or Professor Reva Johnson ‘09, Ph.D. at reva.johnson@valpo.edu.
Valparaiso University is proud to encourage and support interdepartmental cooperation through a caring and connected campus culture. The GoBabyGo program will not only be an opportunity for service, but a chance for students to apply their passion for problem-solving to real-world issues. To learn more about how service is guiding the future of the University, see our five-year strategic plan here.
