GoBabyGo is tuning up for its first semester as a registered student organization at Wichita State University.

GoBabyGo is a national, community-based research, design and outreach program that creates modified ride-on toy cars for young children with mobility issues. Wichita State first became involved in the program by building two cars as a project for an engineering class in spring 2016.

The program has grown to include both engineering students as well as physical therapy (PT) students. Since its conception at WSU, the GoBabyGo program has given hands-on experience to over 80 WSU students and has served over 30 children with disabilities and plans to build 16 more cars this fall semester.

Sam Corcoran, engineering educator, hopes to get more students involved in the program and hopes to branch out toward different majors, such as communication students.

“We just started a collaboration with Shocker Ad lab students to put together a marketing and communications plan,” says Corcoran. “We also began a collaboration with students in the Spanish department to get help translating live meetings with our Spanish-speaking customers and their families.”

Corcoran believes all majors should to learn how to create customer value and says GoBabyGo gives that experience. However, instead of dealing with adults, their client base is toddlers.

“Students have to figure out what the kids like, what their favorite color is and what kind of medical requirements they’ll need,” says Corcoran. “They have to put themselves in our customer’s tiny shoes.”

WSU students Brandon Nece (engineering) and Melanie Rowson (PT) feel the experience gained from GoBabyGo will help them in their future careers. Nece and Rowson get to put their classroom knowledge to work in the real world, while helping a child in need.

Rowson, now a sophomore, began working in GoBabyGo the summer of her freshman year. She knew the program would be a great way to become exposed to different diagnoses and would give her experience with what it’s like to work with children.

“I thought this was a great experience to get my hands wet with the pediatric population while I’m in school,” says Rowson. “This is a specialty that I have a high interest to practice in.”

GoBabyGo also allows students the opportunity to interact with another profession they normally wouldn’t get to.

Nece, a computer engineering major, began in the program when it was specifically for engineering students. His computer engineering background allows him to work hands on with a lot of the wiring and the programing of the micro-controllers, the technology that allows kids to operate their cars with a joystick.

“My favorite part of the experience is the journey that comes with creating the car,” says Nece. “It allows me to engage my mind. In the end you’ve done something to help someone less-fortunate than yourself.”

Nece and Rowson agree that seeing the kids’ faces light up when receiving their car is unlike any other feeling and makes all the hard work worth it.

Students interested in joining the organization can go to http://wsu.orgsync.com/, create an account and search for GoBabyGo. Those who would like to help without joining can donate through the WSU Foundation and specify GoBabyGo, or can access build blueprints at wichita.edu/gobabygo to build their own ride-on cars at home.