Disabled and in the driver’s seat

Using science to make a positive impact in the community.

Engineering students at Caesar Rodney High School have done just that and now have a shot at winning big.

While their modified mobility car may look and sound like an ordinary children’s toy,  the electric jeep may be the future of affordable transportation for young students with cerebral palsy.

“It was just a project that we felt was a need for our community.” Said Chris Harris, the supervising CRHS faculty member of the group’s project.

The Caesar Rodney students Jeremiah Collins, David Friess Jr., and Tyranae Haupt, along with Harris, will be representing Delaware as one of 15 national finalists in Samsung’s “Solve For Tomorrow Contest” in New York.

Their ticket, the modified mobility car, which features simple controls such as a button accelerator on the steering wheel and easy forward and reverse switches in the front console.

Friess, who worked on the vehicle’s electrical layout, commented on the process of designing the car, saying, “We had to specifically tailor the car for certain kids. Some kids, they couldn’t use their legs so with this car specifically we had to move the controls up to the front so that their hands could use it.”

The group’s project began when faculty members of the John S. Charlton School,  which serves students up to 21 years-old facing cognitive and physical disabilities.

This project was for some special kids. They needed some help and so we were happy to be able to come up with a way to help them.

If they win in New York, it could mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in technological upgrades for Caesar Rodney High.

But as Friess Jr. describes, at this point the project itself is already a victory.

“I think this has been a great success so far, even if we don’t win, this project is going to continue here at CR and help more people in the future regardless of whether we win or not.”

The group will be heading to New York City’s Intrepid Sea Air and Space museum on Wednesday to make a presentation in front of a panel of judges.

Of 5 grand-prize winners in the Samsung’s Solve For Tomorrow Contest, the panel will select 3, 1 will be selected by Samsung employees, and another will be selected via an online vote as a part of the community choice award winner.

Public voting is open right now and closes on Thursday March 25th.

You can vote  here.