Presley Keller, a 16-month-old, cautiously approached a royal blue electric car. With a gentle push from her mother, April Keller, Presley beamed with a wide smile as she grabbed the steering wheel. This moment, captured at the Blain’s Farm & Fleet headquarters in Janesville on March 13, 2025, showcased the joy and independence the GoBabyGo! program brings to children with mobility limitations.
The GoBabyGo! program, which was showcased on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at the Blain’s Farm & Fleet company headquarters in Janesville, WI, provides modified electric cars to aid young children with disabilities.
Emilia Becker, the founder of GoBabyGo!, sees the program as more than just a fun activity. “It’s about providing kids with opportunities for independence and exploration,” Becker said. GoBabyGo! partners with engineering students to create and modify the cars to better serve the needs of the children. Students from nearby schools, including those from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, worked to customize the cars for children, enhancing their independence and mobility.
The modifications to the cars allow children like Presley to explore their world. Parents and staff from Blain’s Farm & Fleet highlighted the impact of the cars, noting how they foster movement and play. The organization notes that it works to ensure the cars meet each individual child’s needs.
The program’s impact is significant, according to experts like Rebecca Achenbach of the Wisconsin Assistive Technology Program. “These cars are a fantastic way to engage children and promote their development,” she said. “We want them to have the same opportunities everyone else has.”
GoBabyGo! offers an opportunity for hands-on learning, community involvement and a chance to give back to the community. The initiative has already provided hundreds of cars to families across the country.
“GoBabyGo! is what happens when you address mobility, socialization, curiosity, and play,” Achenbach said.
