Endowed for the Future: 'Go Baby Go' Full Throttle for New Era for Empowering Kids
Harper Hubert, a 4-year-old with curly blonde hair and a penchant for music and movement, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy soon after she came into this world and, at only a few months old, began experiencing epileptic spasms, often a symptom of the congenital disorder.
At three months of age, Harper began receiving pediatric physical therapy (PT) to help improve her coordination, and today she requires assistance with walking and uses a wheelchair. Still, it was clear early on to Mike and Crystal Hubert that, despite their daughter’s disability, she possessed the same gleeful exuberance as any toddler, lighting up when pushed around in her stroller, dancing to music, or engaging in other physical activities compatible with her abilities. So, advised by physical therapist Alison “Ali” Liddle, PT, MPP, PCS, the Huberts applied for the Go Baby Go program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where physical therapy and engineering students collaborate to build custom mobility cars for children with movement disorders at no cost to their families.
The day of their daughter’s car pickup in July 2022 was an emotional one for Mike and Crystal. Harper took to her new mobility aid with a sparkle in her eye and quickly learned to operate the vehicle adapted to her needs.
“I definitely cried,” Crystal Hubert said. “I was just astounded. Ali was there, and we couldn’t even talk about it because we were both really surprised by how fast it just clicked for her and how engaged she was and motivated to push the button to make the car go.”
Launched in 2014 at Northwestern, Go Baby Go celebrated its 10th anniversary last year with a substantial boost: the establishment of an endowed fund to help the program benefit more children in need. The endowed fund was created thanks to the generosity of donor Judith Rubin of Los Angeles.
“When I was introduced to Go Baby Go in 2019, I immediately recognized the difference the program could make in the lives of toddlers with mobility limitations by providing customized electric cars for them to participate in and enjoy activities with their siblings and other children,” Ms. Rubin said. “It has been incredibly rewarding to see the kids ‘tooling around’ in their cars, being part of the action, and to see the joy on the faces of their parents as they watch. I can’t help but feel that, with more widespread awareness of the Go Baby Go program, others wouldn’t be inspired to join the effort to help the program grow.”
Go Baby Go is managed by faculty and students in the Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences (PTHMS) at Feinberg with support from Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering students. For doctor of physical therapy (DPT) students at Feinberg, the program provides an opportunity to work with real-world pediatric patients.
The Power of Movement
Movement during early childhood enhances cognitive and physical development, and Go Baby Go aims to encourage this vital growth through modified ride-on cars in children with disabilities, promoting play, socialization, and independence, said Kristin J. Krosschell, PT, DPT, MA, professor of PTHMS and of Pediatrics.
Indeed, studies published in journals including Frontiers of Psychology, Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, Health Technology Assessment, and Developmental Psychobiology show that limited movement in children can reduce social engagement, cognitive development, and spatial awareness, while movement is correlated with infant emotion, smiles, vocalizations, and social engagement.
“Locomotion is an essential activity that drives a child’s ability to participate socially with peers and family, engage more fully in education, enjoy leisure and recreation activities, and participate in their communities with friends and families,” explained Dr. Krosschell, who led the team that built Harper’s car. “Mobility is really one of our major connections to the world with an end goal to engage in our lives and participate meaningfully.”
Harper’s car, like all vehicles designed by the Go Baby Go faculty and students, featured customizations tailored specifically to her needs. Before constructing the vehicle, the students interviewed the Huberts to gather detailed information about Harper, such as personal interests to improve motivation while she learned to operate her car, and environmental factors, to best consider space for driving, storing, and transporting the car.
The students modified Harper’s car so she could control it using a large button instead of a foot pedal, making it more accessible to her, Dr. Krosschell said. The button was placed on a hinged tray table that could be adjusted to accommodate her reach and encourage the use of both arms. The tray was designed to pivot for easy access and is covered in black fabric for visual contrast. The steering wheel was removed, and a PVC-pipe push handle was added to the back of the vehicle for her parents to steer. Additional modifications included a five-point safety harness, pool noodles and swimming kickboard for posture, and an emergency on/off switch.
The car, painted a vibrant purple—Harper’s favorite color—and adorned with music notes and tie-dye tape, also included an FM radio, allowing her to enjoy her favorite country and jazz tunes while cruising around her garage or neighborhood.
“It’s truly Harper’s car,” Mike Hubert said. “I was really impressed with how the students collaborated with Harper, our family, the PT Department at Feinberg, and the engineers to create the perfect little ‘Harper’-mobile.”
For more information about supporting Go Baby Go, please contact Vic Maurer at victor.maurer@northwestern.edu or 312-503-2417.