Students Build Adaptive Ride-On Cars for Local Kids
Corvallis families with children who have limited mobility can receive custom-built ride-on cars at little or no cost.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Special Needs
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Oregon State University students are creating custom, modified ride-on cars for children with limited mobility to help foster social exploration and independent movement. Through a partnership with Pacific Northwest Assistive Technologies, these adaptive vehicles are provided to local families at little or no cost.
Why it matters
For families of children with mobility challenges, accessing adaptive play equipment can be prohibitively expensive or difficult to source. These modified cars offer a practical, low-cost solution for movement and social development within the Corvallis community.
Each 12-volt vehicle takes approximately half a day to assemble. Build costs range from $330 to $750 per unit, supported by donations and a city of Corvallis grant.
The players
Oregon State University
A public research university in Corvallis serving as the hub for student engineering teams and the Wayfinders project.
Matthew Pickerell
The lead coordinator for the Wayfinders engineering project at Oregon State University.
Pacific Northwest Assistive Technologies
A nonprofit founded in 2024 that manages the distribution of adapted mobility vehicles to children with disabilities.
The details
The engineering team modifies standard ride-on vehicles by replacing traditional floor pedals with accessible joysticks, buttons, or head switches. To ensure safety and comfort, the students also install custom padding and support harnesses tailored to the childs specific needs. Families can exchange vehicles as children grow, trading in smaller models for larger versions.
Timeline
Pacific Northwest Assistive Technologies was co-founded in 2024.
The project continues to operate as of October 28, 2026.
The Home Front
This effort reflects a growing trend in community-based assistive technology programs that repurpose standard consumer goods to meet specific physical needs. It provides a localized alternative to the high costs typically associated with specialized mobility equipment for children.
Families with children who have limited mobility should contact Pacific Northwest Assistive Technologies to inquire about availability or to facilitate a trade-in for a larger model. Consider reaching out to your child's physical therapist to confirm if a modified ride-on car aligns with their developmental mobility plan.
The takeaway
Customized mobility vehicles offer families a sustainable way to encourage independence and play for children with physical disabilities. Families in the Corvallis area can benefit from the nonprofit trade-in program as their child grows, ensuring access to appropriately sized equipment over time.
Further reading
Learn more about local support resources in the Special Needs section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KMTR.
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