Indiana University Partners with Toyota Material Handling to Empower Children through GoBabyGo Initiative
On January 10, 2026, a heartwarming event took place at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) as the School of Health & Human Sciences and Toyota Material Handling collaborated to present eight custom-built vehicles to children with mobility challenges during the GoBabyGo Play Day. This student-led program, which gained national traction originally at the University of Delaware in 2012, aims to adapt battery-powered ride-on cars, enabling children with motor and cognitive delays to enhance their independence and work toward therapeutic goals through play.
GoBabyGo at IUPUI was established in 2015 under the leadership of Sara Davis, an adjunct professor in the Department of Physical Therapy. The initiative integrates clinical training with hands-on learning by allowing students to take part in building and adapting these specialized vehicles. The customizations made to each vehicle are comprehensive, designed by a multidisciplinary team of physical therapy and engineering students, along with community volunteers. Every vehicle is tailored to meet the unique mobility goals of the children, featuring modifications such as custom seating arrangements, harness systems, and alternative drive switches.
The provision of base vehicles and technical support from Toyota Material Handling has been instrumental in the success of this program, bridging the gap between academic theory and practical application. The collaboration not only enriches the educational experience for the students but also results in meaningful mobility solutions for families in the community.
The GoBabyGo initiative comprises three distinct phases: Community Day, which involves assessing the children’s needs; Build Day, dedicated to the engineering and adaptation of vehicles; and Play Day, where families receive their customized cars and training on their usage. Dr. Sara Davis, the program’s director, expressed the profound impact the initiative has by stating, “Seeing a child’s face light up when they can move with siblings or play in their neighborhood is exactly why we do it. That moment is priceless for families and life-changing for our students, too.”
During the recent Play Day, families were overjoyed as they received their no-cost, custom-built vehicles, marking the delivery of the 121st car since the program’s inception. GoBabyGo aims to provide approximately 18 vehicles each year, fulfilling a critical need for adaptive mobility solutions.
Danielle Nickerson, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Toyota Material Handling, emphasized the importance of such initiatives for community welfare: “We’re so proud of the meaningful impact GoBabyGo continues to have—helping children experience greater mobility and independence. Supporting programs that strengthen our communities is at the heart of who we are at Toyota.”
Families who believe their child could benefit from an adapted vehicle are encouraged to join the program’s waitlist by completing an application available at GoBabyGo. Through partnerships like this, Indiana University and Toyota Material Handling are making strides in enriching the lives of children with disabilities, fostering a spirit of inclusivity and empowerment within the community.
