Santa Margarita Students Build Ride-On Car For Special Needs Kids

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — The Molso Family Pavillion erupted in cheering and applause for the tiny toy car, created by the Santa Margarita Catholic High School Required Robotics team last week. Little Santiago Gomez, 2, opted for the safety of his mother's arms as they were presented with his new, retrofitted ride-in car while "Baby You Can Drive My Car" blared in the background.

Driving a motorized car isn't normally an event that would bring a parent to tears, but for mother Silvia Bautista, this was a step toward seeing her child do what other children do. Her son, Santiago, was born with Cerebral Palsy.

With his limited mobility, Santiago cannot sit up on his own and therefore, the opportunity to drive one of those fancy motorized cars has never been possible until the work of the Santa Margarita Catholic High School SMbly Required Robotics team.

According to their director of robotics, Jason Lawrence, technology's purpose is to improve the lives of people. The chance to partner with the national "Go Baby Go!" Program, to modify toy ride-on cars for children with limited mobility like Santiago, was a no-brainer.

Lawrence led his team to complete the retrofit of the car, modified with straps to keep Santiago upright as he is unable to sit up on his own.

To retrofit the car, the team rewired circuits and added a button to allow Santiago to control the vehicle from the passenger seat, as well as a switch in the back to easily stop the car, if needed, Lawrence explained. It didn't take long for Santiago to get the hang of it.

"We're so happy," Bautista said. "The car is a big opportunity for Santiago to live a little more like a normal child."

For children with mobility issues, the toy cars allow them freedom to explore, be social and gain independence.

“It opens up their world,” said Santiago’s physical therapist, Bessie Cheng, also present at the event. “It’s a way Santiago can be curious and explore.”

For SMCHS robotics team member Eric Friestedt, the opportunity to provide children with priceless memories they can hold on to the rest of their lives makes it all worth it.

"My favorite memory when I was a child was driving my small red toy car,” Friestedt said. “I remember how much I loved being in that car. To be able to pay that forward to another child who might not otherwise have that opportunity is so valuable to me.”

Photos: Steve Wylie Photography