How one man's trip to Toys 'R' Us brought mobility to hundreds of disabled kids

Cole Galloway’s workspace at the University of Delaware resembles a ransacked toy store. There are piles of plastic tubing, swim noodles, stuffed animals, and battery-powered Jeep and Barbie cars everywhere. But Galloway, 48, is a physical therapy professor and infant behavior expert whose lab has a very clear mission: to provide mobility to children with cognitive or physical disabilities.

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University of Delaware - Department of Physical Therapy - Dr. James C. (Cole) Galloway, PT, PhD.

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A circus and performing arts camp

The Camp Winnarainbow Kids Camp program is driven by its two core philosophies (The Show Show and The Life Show) and all of its activities are designed to reflect their goals.

The Show Show

Our performance philosophy emphasizes taking risks in a physically and emotionally safe environment. Drawing from the world of circus and theatrical arts, we teach timing, balance, and a sense of humor. We honor the creative spirit of each child in an atmosphere of approval and mutual encouragement.

The Life Show

Camp Winnarainbow provides a training ground to nurture leaders for a peaceful, harmonious and sustainable world by teaching responsibility for one’s own behavior and developing confidence, inner security and appropriate self-expression. We encourage respect for oneself, others, and the environment while valuing the uniqueness of each individual, within the diversity of racial, cultural, economic, and religious backgrounds that comprise our camp community.

The Infant Behavioral Assessment and Intervention Program (IBAIP)

An Education and Training Program for Early Intervention Professionals.

The Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP)

The Vision, Purpose, Mission and Activities of the NIDCAP Federation International

Vision: The vision of the NIDCAP Federation International (NFI) is that all newborn infants in intensive and special care nurseries receive individualized, developmentally supportive, family centered care so that they may realize optimal health and developmental outcome.

Purpose: The purpose of the NFI is to serve as the authoritative leader for research, development, and dissemination of the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) and for the certification of trainers, health care professionals, and nurseries in the NIDCAP approach.

Mission: The mission of the NFI is to develop and support a worldwide collaborative community of trainers, health care systems, professionals, families, and other partners to assure that the highest quality of individualized, developmentally supportive, family centered care is available to all newborns in intensive and special care nurseries.

Sudden infant death syndrome

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexpected, sudden death of a child under age 1 in which an autopsy does not show an explainable cause of death.

The cause of SIDS is unknown. Many doctors and researchers now believe that SIDS is caused by several different factors, including:

Problems with the baby's ability to wake up (sleep arousal)

Inability for the baby's body to detect a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood

Prevention

Revised American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) guidelines, released in October 2005, recommend the following:

Always put a baby to sleep on its back.

Only put babies to sleep in a crib.

Let babies sleep in the same room (NOT the same bed) as parents.

Avoid soft bedding materials.

Make sure the room temperature is not too hot.

Offer the baby a pacifier when going to sleep.

Do not use breathing monitors or products marketed as ways to reduce SIDS.

source: U.S. National Library of Medicine

You can also find some useful guidelines here.

What is also interesting is the Safe to Sleep Public Education Campaign.

The Safe to Sleep campaign—formerly known as the Back to Sleep campaign—aims to educate parents, caregivers, and health care providers about ways to reduce the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related causes of infant death.