ORLANDO, Fla. – Many children with physical disabilities are in wheelchairs that are too small or in disrepair. That’s because, oftentimes, children outgrow their chairs before Medicaid or insurance will allow a replacement.
The nonprofit Wheelchairs 4 Kids helps cover some of those costs, providing wheelchairs, home and vehicle modifications and other necessary medical equipment.
Several times a year they encourage families to get outdoors with events they call Wheely Fun Days.
This month nearly 40 families from across the state were treated to a day at Gatorland in Orlando.
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Dawn Martinez and her son Brian Castillo drove from Flagler County.
“We try to come to every event that we possibly can because they’re absolutely amazing,” Martinez said. “A lot of times these kids are stuck in the house, they’re not able to get out. It’s hard to find something that’s wheelchair accessible.”
The nonprofit started in 2011 when Executive Director Madeline Robinson was working in other nonprofits and noticed a gap in the system. She would see kids in wheelchairs that didn’t fit or who had equipment that didn’t fit their needs anymore.
Elizabeth Reinhardt, operations manager for Wheelchairs 4 Kids says, this is a common problem.
“For example, we had a kid who had Muscular Dystrophy, his parents fought with their insurance for two years and they wouldn’t get him a new wheelchair,” Reinhardt explained. “They said we’re sorry he doesn’t need a new wheelchair. His wheelchair was probably four or five sizes too small because of how much he had grown. He’s like 16 now and he got it when he was 12. A 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy are so different in size.”
Reinhardt says the nonprofit has helped about 1500 qualified families get new wheelchairs and equipment.
“That’s our primary program, we call it ‘Let’s Roll.” After they receive equipment they qualify for our inclusion program which is our ‘Wheely Fun Days. That’s what we’re doing here at Gatorland.”
Brandon Fisher, Director of Media Relations for Gatorland, says the park has been hosting the group for years.
“For us, it’s just a fun event. Some of these families have been coming back year after year,” Fisher said.
Fisher said the park built a disabled-accessible zipline years ago when they heard the story of one boy who was upset that he couldn’t participate in the activities of his siblings.
“It’s gratifying for us,” Fisher said. “Some of these kids get told they can’t do things day after day or they can’t do things with their family. So this gives them an opportunity to do something that they’re seeing their brothers or sisters do.”
Noah Riley received a bicycle from Wheelchairs for kids. The 10-year-old had a huge smile on his face as he and his family made their way up the ramps to the zipline launch. He couldn’t wait for his turn down the cable.
“This is going to be my third time,” Riley said, adding that he’s not scared. “Not one bit. I’m not scared at all.”
Dawn Martinez said events like this are a great way for the kids to meet each other and for families to share tips.
“It’s amazing, it’s changed Brian’s life, he’s met a lot of friends,” Martinez said. “I’ve found out about many different wheelchairs that I didn’t know about. Coming here and meeting somebody else that has a similar experience gives you different avenues to go down.”
Elizabeth Reinhardt says that’s just one of the reasons the nonprofit organizes these events.
“A lot of times the kids we work with are isolated because they’re in wheelchairs,” Reinhardt said. “They don’t get invited to the same birthday parties. They don’t go to movies with friends. It’s a lot harder. So we give them an opportunity to do all those fun things with families that are going through the same things they’re going through.”
Wheelchairs 4 Kids has taken families on excursions as far away as Colorado for an adaptive ski trip. They’ve experienced Tampa Bay Buccaneers training camp, adaptive water-skiing, sled hockey, sail boating, WWE events and indoor skydiving.
“Almost every day we get some sort of story that warms our hearts,” Reinhardt said. “You come to an event like this and you see all the kids thriving and they’re doing so well.”
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