JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — At the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, engineering and physical therapy students are converting drivable toy cars from store shelves into custom-made fun for disabled children.
The Adaptive Toy program has received a 5-year grant from the National Institutes of Health and is helping families with disabled children while giving the students a dose of community service that will stick with them long after graduation.
The parents of 4-year-old Scarlett Wilgis, who has cerebral palsy, say they’ve had a hard time finding toys that she can play with.
Scarlett received a toy car with a large push button that replaced the steering wheel and light sensors mounted underneath the car will allow it to follow a line of tape along the floor.
Doctors say the toy will give Scarlett a new mobility, and help her become more independent.
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