Valparaiso University, along with partners at Jacobs Ladder Pediatric Rehabilitation and Kidworks Pediatric Therapy Center in Chesterton, has been named a recipient of the Collaboration Challenge Grant offered by First Things First Porter County, an arm of the Porter County Community Foundation. The grant, totaling $20,000, will be used to enhance the GoBabyGo program, improve the functionality of toys used by children with developmental challenges, and expand collaboration with local therapists to improve outcomes.
GoBabyGo at Valpo launched in 2024 with the goal of helping children with disabilities gain greater independence to navigate their surroundings and explore the world around them. The initiative brings together engineering and occupational therapy students to combine their knowledge to modify commercially available ride-on vehicles so they can be operated by children with disabilities. Valpo’s dedication to service has given its GoBabyGo program a uniquely family-centered approach to both the healthcare and engineering aspects of the project.
“Rather than us just acting as the experts and saying ‘here’s our design, here you go,’ family-centered practice really has us try to partner with the families as part of our team, asking them for their input,” said Theresa Carroll, OTD, OTR/L, “We know they’re more likely to actually use the car if it’s something that really meets their needs, and they know their child better than we do.”
Students began the toy modification portion of the initiative in the spring of 2026. Simple electronic toys can have an immense impact on a child’s developing sense of cause and effect, but small buttons and switches can prove challenging for children with developmental disabilities. To ensure more children can get the full benefits of playtime, students are working with families to redesign those interactive elements and make them accessible to a wider audience.
With the Collaboration Challenge Grant, both programs will be able to pursue more ambitious vehicle and toy modifications, and will be able to improve the lives of more children in the area. Additional funding will help compensate therapists from Jacob’s Ladder and Kidworks for their time supporting the children as they test and pick up their vehicles.
Both GoBabyGo and the toy modification projects are collaborative efforts between the College of Nursing and Health Professions’ Occupational Therapy program and the College of Engineering bioengineering and mechanical engineering programs. By working together, students gain a better technical understanding of their field and of the invaluable soft skills they’ll need in the professional world.
“Collaborating with peers in the College of Engineering has taught me the vital importance of interdisciplinary teamwork,” said occupational therapy student Brianna Wilson ’28. “It is rewarding to see the outcomes that can be achieved when different fields come together.”
“Everyone brings different perspectives,” said Carter Mullens ’26, a bioengineering major that was part of the project’s first semester. “The occupational therapy students give us instructions, then we, as engineers, have to say ‘okay, now how do we go about doing this?’ and figure out how to make the best product we could.”
These projects are currently open to applicants receiving therapy services from any organization through the Indiana First Steps program. Those interested can talk to their provider, or contact for more information.
First Things First
Because early childhood development affects every aspect of our community, the Porter County Community Foundation launched First Things First (FTF) in 2021 to strengthen, sustain and nurture partnerships to promote healthy beginnings, family support and early relational health. FTF catalyzes community partners to create a thriving ecosystem of care and support ensuring every baby born in Porter County has a strong start to life. FTF brings together organizations, providers and individuals across the county working to mitigate families’ challenges when they welcome a baby home. For more information, please visit FirstThingsPC.org.
