When Brantley was just 5 years old, he used his speech device a few days before Christmas to ask for a bike. Despite Santa already having finished his shopping, that bike appeared under our tree on Christmas morning.
Brantley's face lit up with joy as he climbed onto his bright red bike. However, it was a bike he was never able to pedal.
Today, we stopped and talked to an occupational therapist with Adaptive Sports Connection. They listened to Brantley’s needs and our concerns about how we could get him to stop if he finally started pedaling and helped us select a bike that would suit Brantley's needs — one equipped with a handle and a brake at the back that would allow us to assist him with breaking and steering.
His smile stretched from ear to ear as he mounted the bike and started pedaling down the sidewalk.
With tears in my eyes, and a smile on my face I watched my nine-year old pedal a bike a full block for the first time.
Seeing Brantley experience one of childhood's simplest pleasures — riding a bike — filled me with a mix of emotions. It's an experience I wasn't sure he would ever have.
Autism has presented challenges in nearly every aspect of Brantley’s life, but this is one battle Brantley will win.
Though almost four years have gone by since Brantley first requested a bike — one I'm certain he's eager to ride — I am determined to provide him with an adaptive bike that fits his needs much better than that first red bike he got all those years ago. #autismfamily #autismlife #autismparents #specialneedsparenting #adaptivesports
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