Lexus Builds Unique Ride for Child with Cerebral Palsy
In a collaboration with the Cerebral Palsy Foundation and Givewith, Lexus ride-on helps owner overcome mobility obstacles.
Cerebral palsy steals away a child’s ability to do all the things other children can do. Running, jumping, walking, skipping, just four things the movement disorder hinders in the little ones affected by it. And while the disorder is stable compared to Parkinson’s or muscular dystrophy, it throws up roadblocks that could last a lifetime.
Luckily, Lexus is ready to run through them. In a collaboration with the Cerebral Palsy Foundation and Givewith, the company unveiled its newest vehicle: a one-off ride-on for a six-year-old girl named Finley Smallwood.
“At Lexus, our core design philosophy has always been human-centric,” said Lexus product planning chief Cooper Ericksen. “We create vehicles around the art and science of human needs. In this case, we wanted to push the envelope and explore what that might mean for a child with cerebral palsy who hasn’t been able to experience the joy of mobility like other children have.”
Unlike your basic Power Wheel, Smallwood’s Lexus replaces the pedals and steering wheel with an armrest joystick. This allows her to make anywhere her own highway, as well as allow her to roll with her friends in their ride-on vehicles.
“People with cerebral palsy rarely get the interventions and support they need at the moments they need them,” said CPF director Rachel Byrne. “Our mission is to shift that paradigm and be a catalyst for creating positive change through innovative collaborations and partnerships.”
The Lexus ride-on was presented to Smallwood in March, painted in her favorite color, purple. The rig features not only the aforementioned hand control, but a custom seat for comfort, and a five-point harness to keep her upright. It also rides higher than a standard ride-on, and has bigger doors. The last two items make entering and exiting the luxury ride a breeze.
“While these modifications will impact the life of one special child,” Ericksen said, “it’s also a step in opening a door for exploring the vast possibilities of human-centric design.”
If Lexus can do that for a little one with cerebral palsy, imagine what they can do for everyone.
Photos: Lexus
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