Using parts from a donated wheelchair and funds raised by Concord Academy’s community service club, a group of student inventors have built a custom walker for Luke Seston, a 2-year-old boy with cerebral palsy. Members of the school’s DEMONs (Dreamers, Engineers, Mechanics, and Overt Nerds) club have dubbed their handiwork Luke’s Skywalker.
The walker is a hodge-podge of equipment that was put together to help Seston develop strength in his leg muscles and give the inquisitive boy some independence.
Diane Borton, a PT for the early intervention program at Minuteman ARC, Concord, Mass, said the walker has made a big difference in Seston’s development. The walker provides the support he needs and keeps his hands free. Seston is now better able to keep up with his twin brother, play soccer, and even ride around on a scooter.
The idea for the students to build a personalized walker with a suspension harness to support the 2-year-old came about when the family’s insurance company would not cover a walker that doctors said could play a big role in his therapy.
The walker went through many designs, all intended to give Luke the best support possible, while making it easy for his parents to operate.
[Source: The Boston Globe]
