Stories

I’m not normally one to get excited over a commercial masquerading as a feel-good documentary, but here’s one that might just make you feel a bit better about life. It comes from Schwinn, the bike manufacturer. Stay with me for the beginning and watch for the transition around the 2-minute mark. (Spoiler alert: Rifton makes a cameo!)           ...

Usually we run blog posts from or for clinicians. It’s rare that we have the chance to share the user’s experience, so when we received a product review from a sixth-grade student we knew we had to run it. Jenny Cashion, Ana’s therapist, writes: One of my students, Ana, hadn’t had much success with previous trials on adaptive tricycles. When I introduced her to the large Rifton...

Malcolm Gladwell writes about the six degrees of separation connecting any two people in the world. But in my experience it only takes one special needs child to connect hearts.  Attending a high-tech symposium last week was a new experience for me. My trade show experience has been limited to demonstrating Rifton items at DME shows or conventions attended by therapists. This time I was in the...

Patrick received his first trike over two years ago because of the difficulty he was having with walking. His endurance was poor, he tended to use a crouch gait and his feet frequently hurt after any ambulation. He started with a small red Rifton Tricycle and it soon became one of his main options for outdoor mobility. Since using the trike over the past two years, Patrick’s lower extremity strength...

Kandi Elmore likes her independence. And a good challenge. At the age of 43, Kandi has a long history of creating change. Diagnosed as having cerebral palsy with spastic quadriplegia before the age of two, Kandi faced an uncertain future. But with a positive attitude and her mother’s unwavering support, Kandi grew up a determined young girl who challenged boundaries and unwittingly became one of...

For a child with disabilities, joining his peers in daily activities is huge. And though sometimes we lose sight of this, we can count on people like Kamran Lloyd to remind us. Take a moment to watch this short story broadcast on WLTX-TV. Kamran eloquently shows us what a special needs adaptive tricycle can do, not only for him, but everyone around him. Enjoy!

Olivia loves cycling and she wanted to make sure other children with special needs got to experience the same thrill. As part of her Bat Mitzvah project Olivia worked with Friendship Circle to provide 100 children with adaptive bicycles and tricycles. I loved the radiant faces of the children in this video as they debuted their bikes. Don’t miss it.

Contributed by Jennifer Burke, caregiver A few years ago I was looking around for a part-time job when I heard that the parents of one of my students were looking for help for their 9-year-old son. They were offering $10 an hour. I took it. I had no idea my life would change forever. Before I first met Scott I was told he used to be a “normal” kid. But the boy I met was anything but. He was in...

Today I had the privilege of interviewing Gary Bryan, David’s dad. David’s picture and story arrived in my inbox sent by an inspired colleague (it had already circulated through the office). I had to know more about this boy on the Rifton adaptive tricycle and his fight against cancer. I started the interview with only the barest facts, but by the end wishing I could be there to hug David and...

Submitted by Kathy Slabaugh, Brooke’s mother Words cannot describe what our family feels, seeing Brooke ride a bike for the first time at 14 years old. Over the past years we have tried to teach Brooke bike riding on several types of bikes with training wheels. She had lots of scrapes and bruises, and was not able to balance herself. Now she is safely riding. She is glowing with confidence riding...