Pennsylvania children with disabilities learned how to ride bikes at special iCan Bike Camp
OAKS, Pa. (CBS) – Just in time for Friday's National Disability Independence Day commemorating the signing of the Americans with Disability Act, children with special needs learned how to ride bikes on their own with help from an army of volunteers at the iCan Bike Camp.
"Yes! Perfect," cheered volunteers for the children and teens at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks.
"You OK, bud?" asked Teri Miller.
She was rooting for her 13-year-old son chase, who lives with Autism. After a week at the camp, which helps children with special needs learn how to ride a bike, he was zipping around the parking lot. Teri fought back tears of gratitude.
"They have been so great here," she said. "He just picked it up so fast. He was the first one out her riding by himself."
Many kids go to the camp because they have balance issues. Chase could not ride a two-wheeled bicycle on his own. So, he started the week on an adapted bike.
"But once he figured out the balance with those rollers that they put on the bike," Teri said. "Really after like the first day, he was whipping around."
Chase was thrilled with his progress, too.
"I can do it on my own," he said.
DaVita Kidney Care paid for part of the camp and sent dozens of volunteers like Eric Mannion, who was Chase's coach.
"Oh my gosh," Mannion said. "I just feel blessed just that I was a part of this, seeing I get to spend time with an amazing human being and his family."
All of this hard work was celebrated. At the end of every session, there was a graduation ceremony.
After the last lap, volunteers formed a tunnel with the parents waiting at the end, each camper got a gold medal, and Teri's family found a new pastime.
"Now, my nine-year-old wants to learn how to ride," she said. "Because we just never did, because (Chase) wasn't able to."
But now, Chase and many campers can ride through the summer.