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Sooner AMBUCS
Deliver AmTrykes to Special Needs Children
Five central Oklahoma
children with developmental disabilities gained
a new level of mobility and independence Sunday,
October 26, when the Norman chapter of AMBUCS
delivered new AmTryke therapeutic tricycles
to them at the J. D. McCarty Center for children
with developmental disabilities in Norman.
AMBUCS is a national non-profit service organization
dedicated to creating mobility and independence
for people with disabilities.
The McCarty Center is Oklahoma's center of excellence
in the care and treatment of children with developmental
disabilities from birth to age 21. Since January
2000, the McCarty Center has been an AmTryke
demonstration site. A demonstration site is
where a person can come to test ride an AmTryke
and be assessed by a certified physical or occupational
therapist for appropriateness. The McCarty Center
is one of more than 200 demonstration sites
around the United States.
AmTrykes can be purchased by the family or donated
by a local AMBUCS chapter. Sunday three area
AMBUCS chapters pooled their resources to donate
AmTrykes to their recipients. The AmTrykes cost
between $400 and $600 a piece depending on the
size and accessories. These AmTrykes were made
possible through the combined efforts of the
Sooner AMBUCS, the Norman AMBUCS, the Oklahoma
City AMBUCS and two anonymous donors.
Receiving an AmTryke were Logan King of Shawnee,
Samuel Wilson of Oklahoma City, Elaina Fredrickson
and Dawson Little of Norman and Damian Saunders
of Sulphur. AmTrykes may be purchased from AMBUCS.
Parents who are financially unable to purchase
one of the tricycles can make application to
AMBUCS for a donated AmTryke.
Parents who receive the donated trike agree
to return the trike to the McCarty Center or
AMBUCS when their child outgrows it so that
the trike may be refurbished and used again
by another child.
There are 11 different models of AmTryke to
accommodate children of different sizes and
different physical needs. One model has rotating
handlebars and foot pedals that are connected
to the same chain drive. This allows the rider
to use their arms to help their legs in propelling
the trike forward. Other models are propelled
by pedals only.
The AmTryke benefits children with low muscle
tone or paralysis in lower extremities (like
spina bifida) and children with cerebral palsy
who need to build up normal muscle tone and
control. The benefits include increased coordination,
improved muscle strength and improved balance.
Since 1994, over 9,400 AmTrykes have been distributed
around the world. The majority of these trikes
are purchased by volunteer members of the AMBUCS
organization and donated free of charge to financially
needy children. During this same time period
the Sooner AMBUCS chapter in Norman has provided
more than 50 AmTrykes to area children.
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