Introduction

The Central Intermediate Unit (CIU) of State College, PA, is a nursery for kids aged three to five. Some of these kids have physical and mental disabilities which restrict them from participating in certain inside and outside play activities.

Kids Without Bounds developed an electric powered playground vehicle, The Leaper LE, for disabled children attending the Central Intermediate Unit preschool. Adaptations are needed in the areas of seating and steering to accommodate a range of disabled children. By creating such a vehicle, Kids Without Bounds provided a way for such children to physically realize independent mobility. The success of the car led to the desire to expand the adaptation of the steering and control of the vehicle to encompass a greater range of children. The task of creating the next generation of controls into "The Leaper 2003" has been entrusted to Quantum Leap.

The children who have access to the vehicle have a wide range of motor skill limitations. Later in life, some of the children will need to control a motorized wheel chair through the use of a joystick. Others simply do not have the ability to produce fine muscular movements. For these children, a two-part controller is needed. Using the concept of a large "on/off" switch to mobilize the car combined with a directional remote control run by a supervisor will fulfill this need. The new controller will provide the illusion of self-controlled mobility.