Not ready for a long hike? Get outdoors in a special-needs stroller.
A stroll in a specialized stroller can still help someone not quite ready to walk to discover the magic - and enjoy the benefits - of being outdoors together
As captured in previous posts, Kennett Outdoors has been working to help people with Intellectual / Developmental Disabilities and/or Autism (IDA) and their caregivers connect with the outdoors in ways that improve their health and well-being. We have focused alot of effort helping people with IDA to walk themselves to get the full health benefit... but we have come to recognize that an outing in a special needs stroller can still offer many benefits AND alot more flexibility even if the person with IDA does not walk at all!
The special needs stroller we have been relying on is made by Wike... a Canadian company that makes a wide range of strollers and bicycle trailers for people and cargo. I cannot recall how we stumbled upon them more than 15 years ago, but our first special needs trailer really transformed our lives by allowing us to finally enjoy outings together. The large version we purchased can be used in "stroller" mode (shorter length, small swivel front wheel, better maneuverability in the city) or in "jogger" mode (longer, larger front wheel, much easier on uneven surfaces). The large Wike can accommodate someone up to 5'4" and 125 lbs while the extra large can accommodate someone up to 5'10" and 200lbs. Both fold up quickly in a couple of minutes to fit in most small to medium-sized SUVs, or be transformed into a bike trailer. Wike can be quite innovative - check out their canoe cart, convertible e-bike, and landscaping trailer I modified to transport 150lbs of mulch at a time using a pedicab (full disclosure: I receive no compensation for sharing information about Wike).
Until recently, we primarily used our Wike as a bike trailer: I have bundled Margot in a sleeping bag to go fat tire biking in 0F (see right) and later worked our how to attach skis! But we have increasingly used our Wike in "jogger" mode to get Margot out on longer trails as we try to stretch out her day to help her to fall asleep later. That made me realize that using the Wike in this way could help other families get started, or meet other needs.
Consider the picture at the top of the page... I wanted to be able to talk with a friend involved in supporting a New York state park about opportunities and challenges to making natural trails more accessible to people like Margot. I would have LOVED to have walked this trail with Margot but that was risky: she tends to be grumpier towards the end of the day (when we wanted to walk), I was not familiar with sections of this trail and so could not gauge whether it was a good fit given her fitness and abilities, and I was not sure I could have a good conversation while also monitoring Margot, even with the help of her very capable and caring aide Sierra. So we opted for a stroll in the Wike and had a much more successful outing together.
So here are some of the creative ways to use the Wike as a stroller or jogger.
Using it as a stroller allows us to bring Margot out for a longer walk together in the city. It also helped stretch out visits to the zoo, the amusement park, or other kid-friendly museums that would otherwise have to end far too quickly
Using it as a jogger allows us to to bring Margot out for a longer walk together on trails that are not paved .
Using it in jogger mode helps us to explore a trail with Margot for the first time. This can prevent the need to end early if we find it is too stressful for her... Margot already tends to be more stressed when she is not familiar with a trail and this can come on top of stress created by specific sections we could not anticipate.
In each of these cases, we can have Margot step out of the Wike to walk 25, 50, 100' or more depending on how crowded the trail is, as illustrated in the video below
Taking a stroll in a Wike in this way still offers many benefits even if Margot only walks a little bit or not at all. For example, a stroll can...
Just break up the day to get fresh air for person with IDA and their caregiver.
Improve the health of a caregiver
Offer a much needed break on a long drive, as in the video above.
Build a routine of daily outings that the person with IDA comes to look forward to
Help to maintain a routine of when the weather is less favorable
Check our Events page for upcoming See It events where you can check out these strollers for yourselves. Over the next couple of weeks, we hope to finalize a series of programs that will help people even more
Try It Events at a local park where you can take a Wike out for a stroll with a coach
Individual coaching, where a coach can meet you at a local park of preserve to take a walk together
Loaners available to sign out at a local park or preserve
So stay tuned!
Comments