Forest View Elementary School’s students got to experience the joys of bike riding as the Cascade Bicycle Club’s Let’s Go program expands across Washington State. With the help of The Outdoors for All Foundation, a volunteer-based organization that leads the nation in adaptive and therapeutic recreation for children and adults with disabilities, they were able to share this joy with all students of varying needs and abilities. “When they heard we had a special education program, they were able to get us some adaptive bikes and scooters,” shares Sarah Chamberlin, who has been teaching Life Skills at Forest View for six years. “My kids loved it! Most of them had never ridden a bike or a scooter before, and they loved doing something new in PE. They would talk about it all week because they just wanted to go back!”

The Let’s Go program teaches bike and pedestrian safety skills to youth to promote safety, green transportation, and physical activity. This is the first time the program has come to Forest View, and after seeing the impact it had on her students, Sarah hopes they will be back! “This was so amazing. I teach students with exceptional needs and complex bodies. They deserve to have every opportunity that their typically-developing peers get, and I’m so glad this program allowed that to happen!” she shares. “We have one student who has only been walking independently for about a year, and his parents were blown away when we sent them a video of him not only sitting on the bike – but pedaling on his own! It was so amazing to see him figure it out and really enjoy it.”

On the last day of the program, the Outdoors for All team discussed options for bikes and scooters to accommodate all of Sarah’s students who have more complex needs next year. “Sometimes inclusion takes a little bit of extra work, but it is so worth it in the end to make sure everybody gets the same opportunities,” says Sarah. Denise C., a regular volunteer in Sarah’s classroom, shared how wonderful it was to see all of the students being able to enjoy the same activities together.

“They were so excited to pedal around the track that had been set up. It was heartwarming to see students from other classes encouraging Sarah’s kiddos and ensuring that everyone had fun at their own pace. There wasn’t a separation of students into abilities, it was just kids having fun,” she concludes.