Program helps those with disabilities learn to ride a bike (VIDEO)

William Duggan spent nine years stuck on the sidewalk watching his twin sister, Kaci, ride a bike up and down the streets of their neighborhood.

She learned the skill at age 4, but William has mild cerebral palsy, which affects his motor skills and coordination.

“He sees in his mind what he wants to do, but his body won’t cooperate,” said his mother, Kristy Duggan.

Past attempts at riding a bike were unsuccessful for the 13-year-old. Kristy Duggan told her family’s pediatrician she was looking into buying an adult tricycle for him.

Hold off on that, the doctor said. Enroll him in iCan bike.

The weeklong camp teaches people with disabilities how to ride a bicycle during five 75-minute sessions. The tactic used by many parents – taking off the training wheels and pushing a child down the street – doesn’t work there.

Instead, campers ride specialized bikes equipped with a contraption that resembles a rolling pin on the back of the bike. The device holds the bike upright, but as the campers gain their balance – and confidence – the roller tire gets shorter and skinnier before ultimately being removed.

The Independent Living Resource Center has hosted the camp for the past 10 years, said director Twila Starns.

The program began when Matt Hampton, one of the center’s board members, unsuccessfully tried to teach his disabled son to ride. Hampton began searching for specialized camps that could teach his son a skill other children often take for granted. The closest was in Texas, so he began the process of starting one in Wichita.

In 2006, the first session had 15 campers “at the most,” Starns said.

A decade later, almost 400 Wichitans with disabilities have learned to ride a bicycle. For some, it becomes their primary mode of transportation.

For others, learning to ride is far less important than the confidence it builds. Assistant director Gail Jamison said campers’ self-esteem increases, as does their perception of social inclusion. Cycling also promotes a healthy lifestyle, she said.

This year’s set of about 30 campers range in age from 8 to 55. Sessions are held in the hockey rink of the Wichita Ice Center, which removes the ice before campers arrive.

“When you see a camper get it, we call that moment ‘taking flight,’ ” Starns said.

By Wednesday, more than half the campers were riding bicycles. More than 80 percent should meet the goal by Friday, Starns said.

As the campers begin to pick up speed, volunteers run around the rink to keep up. They take turns, subbing in like basketball players when a teammate is winded, so two or three are paired with each rider.

By Day 3, William had graduated from the roller tire. Bonnie Thurman and Vanessa Kehr, William’s spotters, moved him outside to practice on the pavement. The uneven surface requires a bit more balance compared to the smooth flooring of the rink.

“He was so proud of himself on the first day,” his mother said. “Fifty-seven laps the first day. He counted.”

William has not slowed down since the start of the session.

“He ran us into the ground,” Thurman said.

Kehr added, “I’ve got quarter-sized blisters on my feet.”

As the two woman caught their breath, they watched William ride laps around the Wichita Ice Center parking lot, knowing he would now be able to ride bikes with his twin sister.

This story was originally published July 15, 2015 at 5:58 PM with the headline "Program helps those with disabilities learn to ride a bike (VIDEO)."