Moving is Learning: Promoting Powered Mobility for Development and Autonomy in Children -Introduction to the Kids Loco Project - Take-home Messages：
Yokoyama, Misako ; Yasuda, Toshihiko ; Funabashi, Atsuhiko ; Nilsson, Lisbeth LU
and Takashio, Junichi
(2025)
European Academy of Childhood-onset Disability & The International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability
- Abstract
- Description: Early interventions with PMDs can improve the independence and developmental outcomes of children with disabilities. Increasing awareness and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential to overcome barriers to access to PMDs. Expanding global partnerships and integrating PMDs into clinical and educational settings can increase children's access to mobility. ABSTRACT: Background The Kids Loco Project (KLP) enhances the mobility and development of children with disabilities using powered mobility devices (PMDs). Established in 2007 by Junichi Takashio and Toshihiko Yasuda in Japan, KLP has developed several PMDs, including Baby Loco and Carry Loco. The devices are low-cost, lightweight, easy to transport, and designed for use... (More)
- Description: Early interventions with PMDs can improve the independence and developmental outcomes of children with disabilities. Increasing awareness and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential to overcome barriers to access to PMDs. Expanding global partnerships and integrating PMDs into clinical and educational settings can increase children's access to mobility. ABSTRACT: Background The Kids Loco Project (KLP) enhances the mobility and development of children with disabilities using powered mobility devices (PMDs). Established in 2007 by Junichi Takashio and Toshihiko Yasuda in Japan, KLP has developed several PMDs, including Baby Loco and Carry Loco. The devices are low-cost, lightweight, easy to transport, and designed for use at home, in nurseries, and schools. The theme of the Kids Loco Project International Meeting 2024, “Moving is Learning,” focused on how mobility fosters learning and functional independence. Description KLP’s PMDs uphold children’s right to movement, improving autonomy and developmental outcomes. Professor Lisbeth Nilsson of Lund University, Sweden, explained that powered mobility is crucial in promoting children’s functional independence. Fujita and other researchers presented a case study of a child with Fukuyama-type congenital muscular dystrophy who learned to operate an electronic mobility aid independently. The importance of early interventions was demonstrated by evaluating an activity-based learning strategy. The Kids Loco Project also organizes DIY workshops to teach families, therapists, teachers and caregivers how to build and modify these devices, further supporting accessibility. Diversity of participants is a hallmark of Kids Loco DIY. Despite many success stories, low awareness and accessibility to PMDs limit their widespread use. Take-home Messages Early interventions with PMDs can improve the independence and developmental outcomes of children with disabilities. Increasing awareness and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential to overcome barriers to access to PMDs. Expanding global partnerships and integrating PMDs into clinical and educational settings can increase children’s access to mobility. (Less)
- Abstract (Swedish)
- Description: Early interventions with PMDs can improve the independence and developmental outcomes of children with disabilities. Increasing awareness and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential to overcome barriers to access to PMDs. Expanding global partnerships and integrating PMDs into clinical and educational settings can increase children's access to mobility. ABSTRACT: Background The Kids Loco Project (KLP) enhances the mobility and development of children with disabilities using powered mobility devices (PMDs). Established in 2007 by Junichi Takashio and Toshihiko Yasuda in Japan, KLP has developed several PMDs, including Baby Loco and Carry Loco. The devices are low-cost, lightweight, easy to transport, and designed for use... (More)
- Description: Early interventions with PMDs can improve the independence and developmental outcomes of children with disabilities. Increasing awareness and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential to overcome barriers to access to PMDs. Expanding global partnerships and integrating PMDs into clinical and educational settings can increase children's access to mobility. ABSTRACT: Background The Kids Loco Project (KLP) enhances the mobility and development of children with disabilities using powered mobility devices (PMDs). Established in 2007 by Junichi Takashio and Toshihiko Yasuda in Japan, KLP has developed several PMDs, including Baby Loco and Carry Loco. The devices are low-cost, lightweight, easy to transport, and designed for use at home, in nurseries, and schools. The theme of the Kids Loco Project International Meeting 2024, “Moving is Learning,” focused on how mobility fosters learning and functional independence. Description KLP’s PMDs uphold children’s right to movement, improving autonomy and developmental outcomes. Professor Lisbeth Nilsson of Lund University, Sweden, explained that powered mobility is crucial in promoting children’s functional independence. Fujita and other researchers presented a case study of a child with Fukuyama-type congenital muscular dystrophy who learned to operate an electronic mobility aid independently. The importance of early interventions was demonstrated by evaluating an activity-based learning strategy. The Kids Loco Project also organizes DIY workshops to teach families, therapists, teachers and caregivers how to build and modify these devices, further supporting accessibility. Diversity of participants is a hallmark of Kids Loco DIY. Despite many success stories, low awareness and accessibility to PMDs limit their widespread use. Take-home Messages Early interventions with PMDs can improve the independence and developmental outcomes of children with disabilities. Increasing awareness and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential to overcome barriers to access to PMDs. Expanding global partnerships and integrating PMDs into clinical and educational settings can increase children’s access to mobility. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/cc29e3d6-255d-4976-bd63-c424bf5a3a74
- author
- Yokoyama, Misako
; Yasuda, Toshihiko
; Funabashi, Atsuhiko
; Nilsson, Lisbeth
LU
and Takashio, Junichi
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-06-28
- type
- Contribution to conference
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- powered mobility
- conference name
- European Academy of Childhood-onset Disability & The International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability
- conference location
- Heidelberg, Germany
- conference dates
- 2025-06-24 - 2025-06-28
- DOI
- 10.13140/RG.2.2.29972.82566
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- cc29e3d6-255d-4976-bd63-c424bf5a3a74
- date added to LUP
- 2025-07-17 12:22:33
- date last changed
- 2025-07-18 09:06:52
@misc{cc29e3d6-255d-4976-bd63-c424bf5a3a74,
abstract = {{Description: Early interventions with PMDs can improve the independence and developmental outcomes of children with disabilities. Increasing awareness and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential to overcome barriers to access to PMDs. Expanding global partnerships and integrating PMDs into clinical and educational settings can increase children's access to mobility. ABSTRACT: Background The Kids Loco Project (KLP) enhances the mobility and development of children with disabilities using powered mobility devices (PMDs). Established in 2007 by Junichi Takashio and Toshihiko Yasuda in Japan, KLP has developed several PMDs, including Baby Loco and Carry Loco. The devices are low-cost, lightweight, easy to transport, and designed for use at home, in nurseries, and schools. The theme of the Kids Loco Project International Meeting 2024, “Moving is Learning,” focused on how mobility fosters learning and functional independence. Description KLP’s PMDs uphold children’s right to movement, improving autonomy and developmental outcomes. Professor Lisbeth Nilsson of Lund University, Sweden, explained that powered mobility is crucial in promoting children’s functional independence. Fujita and other researchers presented a case study of a child with Fukuyama-type congenital muscular dystrophy who learned to operate an electronic mobility aid independently. The importance of early interventions was demonstrated by evaluating an activity-based learning strategy. The Kids Loco Project also organizes DIY workshops to teach families, therapists, teachers and caregivers how to build and modify these devices, further supporting accessibility. Diversity of participants is a hallmark of Kids Loco DIY. Despite many success stories, low awareness and accessibility to PMDs limit their widespread use. Take-home Messages Early interventions with PMDs can improve the independence and developmental outcomes of children with disabilities. Increasing awareness and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential to overcome barriers to access to PMDs. Expanding global partnerships and integrating PMDs into clinical and educational settings can increase children’s access to mobility.}},
author = {{Yokoyama, Misako and Yasuda, Toshihiko and Funabashi, Atsuhiko and Nilsson, Lisbeth and Takashio, Junichi}},
keywords = {{powered mobility}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{06}},
title = {{Moving is Learning: Promoting Powered Mobility for Development and Autonomy in Children -Introduction to the Kids Loco Project - Take-home Messages：}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.29972.82566}},
doi = {{10.13140/RG.2.2.29972.82566}},
year = {{2025}},
}