High school robotics team has built seven wheelchairs for children with disabilities

FARMINGTON, Minn —

2023 UPDATE:

This story was originally published in 2019. Since then, the Farmington High School robotics team has customized six additional wheelchairs for children with movement disabilities. All the chairs were given to families free of charge.

Two families that received customized wheelchairs have since given them back, as their children outgrew them, so the chairs could be modified for other kids.

Last year, the team named Rogue Robotics won its first regional competition in the program’s 14-year history, advancing to the national championship in Houston.

A month after the original story aired, the team was honored by former First Lady Melania Trump at the White House.

ORIGINAL STORY:

In need of a costly power wheelchair for their son, the parents of 2-year-old Cillian Jackson turned to an unlikely source. Teenagers.

Thanks to the robotics team at Farmington High School, Cillian now has his ride – a functioning power wheelchair hand-built from a Power Wheels riding toy.

In need of a costly power wheelchair for their son, the parents of 2-year-old Cillian Jackson turned to an unlikely source. Teenagers.

Thanks to the robotics team at Farmington High School, Cillian now has his ride – a functioning power wheelchair hand-built from a Power Wheels riding toy.

“These kids took time out of their busy schedules to do this for our son,” said Cillian’s mother, Krissy Jackson. “We’re so grateful.”

Cillian was born with a genetic condition that makes mobility difficult. “He has an especially hard time controlling his body. He has a lot of symptoms you’d see in someone who has cerebral palsy,” said Tyler Jackson, Cillian’s father.

Tyler Jackson reached out to the robotics team at his former high school after he realized an actual power wheelchair would be cost prohibitive for his family and unlikely to be covered by insurance due to Cillian’s young age.  

Farmington robotics coach Spencer Elvebak says there was no hesitation by his students. “I brought it up to the kids at a meeting, ‘Is this something we want to step up and do?’” Elvebak recalled. The sentiment was unanimous. Yes!   

“That’s the great part of my job, to work with these kind of kids,” Elvebak said.

The members of the robotics team replaced nearly every electrical component in the Power Wheels toy, mounted a seat from a bicycle carrier and designed a joystick to fit Cillian’s needs the students fabricated on a 3D printer.

Along the way, they sought technical assistance from “GOBABYGO!” - a program at the University of Delaware that helps give mobility to children with disabilities.

But mostly the Farmington students relied on skills they learned building their competition robots.

“Instead of completing a task, we’re helping change someone’s life,” team member Drew Eisenzimmer said.

Cillian took to his ride immediately. 

Last week, four months after receiving his wheelchair, Cillian returned with his family to the school and was reunited with the teens responsible for his gift. They watched, smiled and waved as Cillian traversed the classroom.

“This really helps him explore like he’s never been able to do before,” Cillan’s mom said.  

Actual power wheelchairs can cost more than $20,000.  Cillians' father said insurance reimbursement isn't an option at this time.  

"Cillian still lacks some of the maturity and focus to drive an electric wheelchair in a public setting, which is the primary reason why he hasn't been approved for one. Frankly, we haven't even tried yet because we know he would be denied based on the proficiency requirement," Tyler Jackson said. 

In the meantime, Jackson said, his son "has the ability to keep working on that proficiency while simultaneously being able to explore on his own to help with his cognitive development."

The Farmington High School Robotics Team has earned more than its share of trophies over the years, but this is different.

“I think we won here more than we do in our competitions,” team member Nicole Cash said.

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