Photo: Jay Willett/WBZ NewsRadio
LYNN, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Saint Mary’s School in Lynn was packed on Thursday with eager kids ready to learn how to ride a bike during the 19th annual Bike Clinic for Children with Autism.
Volunteers from the nonprofit ‘Rachel’s Challenge’ teamed up with Northeast Arc’s Support Center to give special-needs children some help when learning to ride.
Local high schoolers, like senior student Tyler, volunteered at the event.
“You just got to make sure you communicate with them in a way that they can understand,” said Tyler. “Then you just help them out, guide them a little bit, and give them a little more independence every time they do it.”
Northeast Arc Director of Family Support Centers Gloria Ricardi-Castillo has a son on the spectrum. She understands physical activities, like learning how to ride a bike, can be challenging.
“Children with developmental disabilities and kids with autism have a hard time with physical stuff sometimes, but not all the time,” said Ricardi-Castillo. “Every year we have a couple, sometimes more than a couple kids come and learn how to ride a bike.”
Saint Mary’s School Nurse and school-program founder Lisa Morin-Plante said the event gives teen volunteers a chance to make their community a better place.
“Rachels Challenge was started here at Saint Mary’s 20 years ago, a initiative that our students come together on a weekly basis, spread kindness,” said Morin-Plante. “A chain reaction of anything that’s good.”
WBZ NewsRadio’s Jay Willett (@JayWillettWBZ) reports.