St. Mary’s students experience the joy of cycling
Marcel* was one of the last of his classmates to try the trike. Functionally blind, Marcel, an easy-going, but somber, student, was happy just sitting on the side of the gym watching his ESII classmates at St. Mary’s High School learn to cycle.
Youth en Route was at St. Mary’s for a week in October to support PE specialist Vince Marra with the ESII class.
With training from CP Kids and Families, Youth en Route provides adaptive bikes and support, through our Jumpstart-funded Cyclists in Residence programs to teach cycling to special students.
Pedalling Forward
Finally, after everyone else had a turn, his aide and student helpers took him to a a trike, adjusted the seat height, and helped him on. Using a pull bar, they were able to give him the feeling of moving. And that’s when the smile hit. And it was a big one.
Over the course of the week, the goal was to get Marcel to pedal. Footplates were added to the bike, and Stuart Saavedra, Youth en Route’s Cyclist in Residence, worked on one side, with a student helper on the other, to try and get his legs moving in the right direction.
“He was so close to consistently pedalling, “ explains Saavedra. “Another couple of days on the bike and I’m sure he would get it. But it really didn’t matter to him. He was more interesting in the movement. You could tell he just loved it.”
Everyone took part
Over the course of the week, all 10 students in the class were able to ride, most completely independently. Take Manu. Her first time on the bike she needed help to steer and had to be reminded to keep moving the pedals. By her second day, she was completely independent and was belting out a song as she circled the gym.
A couple of the students had so much fun, and had to be reminded to slow down. Saavedra and his student helpers set up some obstacle courses. The best activity was running over the rubber chickens and getting them to squeak. It caused a traffic jam of bikes.
Feedback was amazing!
Over the course of the week, many teachers and administrators at the school popped into the gym to marvel at the skills on display. Everyone commented on what a great experience it was for students.
Marra was effusive with his thanks, describing the week as amazing. The school was left with three trikes and they will be used to continue to build skills and provide physical activity opportunities.
“We find that at first many teachers are a bit overwhelmed with the prospect to teaching cycling to special education students,” explains Laura Shutiak, Youth en Route’s Executive Director. “We know that having us in school, even for a few days, helps teachers and students get going with the right equipment for success.”
We are looking forward to our next opportunity to work with special education students coming up soon at William Aberhart High School.
Parents love it too
Marra heard back from a number of parents who were so thankful for their kids to have this opportunity. “I’m now going to have to buy a bike for him,” wrote one parent in an email.
For more information about our adaptive bike program and using a cyclist in residence to support your teachers, please reach out to info@youthenroute.ca
*name changed for privacy
And thank you to the students volunteer helpers that supported learning !
