Vol. 1, Issue 3, Nov/Dec 1993	Previous Issues Subscribe to AT Messenger Download PDF Viewer
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AT Product Spotlight: Cooper Car

R.J. Cooper & Associates

With this popular toy, young children with physical challenges can "drive" themselves around their environment by using a joystick or an array of switches. While the car is not as sophisticated as a powered wheelchair, it is much less expensive and may serve as an effective and fun beginning, training, or evaluation vehicle for a particular child.

The car's features include variable start-up speed, optional latch/timer, remote safety switch controlled by an adult, a joystick with a variety of lengths and knobs, and single and multiple switch adaptations.

The most affordable means for purchasing the car is to buy the Conversion kit from R.J. Cooper and buy the car, "The BOSS" by Hedstrom from a local toy store or Sears. This is a viable option for do-it-yourselfers who are on a budget. R.J. provides a videotape to guide you through the conversion process. In addition, some type of adapted seat will need to be purchased or built to position the child in the car. If switches are to be used, these also may be purchased separately from a variety of sources.

Diane Bicknell, a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University, has developed a safe and flexible seating system for the Cooper Car which provides the needed support and stability for toddlers and pre-schoolers with poor trunk and/or head control. She and her husband customized a Rifton toddler chair to fit the Cooper Car by cutting down the legs and bolting it into the car. They also added padded seating, footrests of varying heights, a chest harness with Velcro closure, a lap seat belt, and additional padding on the roll bar to make it as safe and comfortable as possible seat for the user.

Their work demonstrates the value and power of teamwork, collaboration, and creativity in creating assistive technology. They were able to develop their version of the Cooper car with funding from a grant and donations from the local Knights of Columbus. The Charles County, Maryland schools, where Diane is a physical therapist, can now take advantage of the Cooper Car to evaluate students as candidates for early powered mobility.

The Cooper Car can be ordered from:
R. J. Cooper & Associates
24843 Del Prade Suite 283
Dana Point, CA 92629
(714) 240-1912

Special thanks to CTE Status Report, (Volume 3, Number 3 - summer 1993) published by the Center for Technology in Education of the Maryland State Department of Education and Johns Hopkins University School of Continuing Studies for permission to reprint parts of this article.