Lexus and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF) have joined forces to create a one-of-a-kind ride-on vehicle inspired by children with cerebral palsy.\u00a0 The collaboration combines Lexus\u2019 human-centric design philosophy with CPF\u2019s mission of improving the lives of people with cerebral palsy and opening up the world of possibilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople with cerebral palsy rarely get the interventions and support they need at the moments they need them,\u201d said Rachel Byrne, CPF executive director. \u201cOur mission is to shift that paradigm and be a catalyst for creating positive change through innovative collaborations and partnerships.\u201d For children with cerebral palsy, one of the greatest challenges is being able to participate in their environment and play as other children do.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt Lexus, our core design philosophy has always been human-centric,\u201d said Cooper Ericksen, Lexus group vice president, product planning & strategy. \u201cWe create vehicles around the art and science of human needs. In this case, we wanted to push the envelope and explore what that might mean for a child with cerebral palsy who hasn\u2019t been able to experience the joy of mobility like other children have.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ride-on vehicle was revealed to its recipient, Finley Smallwood, in March \u2013 a month also designated as National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month. Together, Lexus and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation identified specific mobility challenges faced by children with cerebral palsy, and Finley in particular.<\/p>\n
Because it can be difficult for Finley to sit for long periods of time, modifications were first made to the seat, adding side padding for lateral support around her waist along with an adjustable headrest and a five-point harness. Her customized ride-on car also includes increased door size and reduced ground clearance to allow for ease of entry and exit.<\/p>\n
Many children with cerebral palsy don\u2019t have the strength to be able to hold and turn a steering wheel consistently for a given period of time, and mobility challenges can make using a foot pedal impossible. Adding something as simple as an armrest joystick allows Finley the ability to control the direction and acceleration of the vehicle without the need for foot pedals or holding a steering wheel for an extended period of time \u2014 giving her the freedom to drive just like any other child.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, and we painted the body of the car purple,\u201d noted Ericksen. \u201cBecause that\u2019s Finley\u2019s favorite color.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile these modifications will impact the life of one special child,\u201d Ericksen added, \u201cit\u2019s also a step in opening a door for exploring the vast possibilities of human-centric design.\u201d<\/p>\n
The partnership is powered by Givewith. For more information and to watch Finley\u2019s journey unfold, visit:\u00a0https:\/\/givewith.com\/lexus-cp<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lexus and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF) have joined forces to create a one-of-a-kind ride-on vehicle inspired by children with cerebral palsy.\u00a0 The collaboration combines Lexus\u2019 human-centric design philosophy with CPF\u2019s mission of improving the lives of people with cerebral palsy and opening up the world of possibilities. \u201cPeople with cerebral palsy rarely get the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2902,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2901","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n