Lose The Training Wheels
Special Needs Program

West Hartford Human & Leisure Services	West Hartford Kiwanis

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• Job Opening as a Program Coordinator

Thank you for your interest in "Lose the Training Wheels"

West Hartford Kiwanis and the West Hartford Human & Leisure Services are pleased to sponsor the "Lose the Training Wheels" program for special needs children, ages 8 to 18, with the desire and determination to master riding a two-wheeled bike. The innovative program is the brainchild of Dr. Richard E. Klein, retired faculty from the University of Illinois, Dept. of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, 1968-1998. The program uses a specially designed bicycle referred to as an "adapted roller trainer bike." Children pedal a series of trainer bikes which are designed to be ultra-stable and then progress towards conventional two-wheeled bicycles. The adapted trainers are intended as stepping-stones to allow the children to graduate onto conventional bikes and become successful riders.

"Lose the Training Wheels" will be offered to children who "have sufficient cognitive ability to want to ride a bicycle, as well as being able to follow simple instructions, and to be able to make minimal cause and effect connections" as stated by program Founder, Dr. Richard Klein. Children should be aged 8 to 18 and able to work in a group setting with instructors and volunteers. Parents are requested to be outside of the children’s visual field while the lessons are being conducted. Special accommodations may need to be made for some campers.

Camp will be held at Hall High School gym (West Hartford) and eight campers will be accommodated in each of the 5 daily sessions. Instructional sessions last 1¼ hours, and campers will attend the same time slot for five consecutive days. Each camper will be assigned an aide to assist with the bike riding and the following of directions given by the Camp Director. Dr. Richard Klein and his wife, Marjorie, will be on site to guide the lessons and rotate bikes according to the child’s progress. Children will be videotaped and photographed throughout the program.

We invite you to visit the national website, www.losethetrainingwheels.org. Should you believe this to be an appropriate, fun activity for your child, please consider applying. Please submit application forms, with check in the amount of $125(R), $175(NR) made payable to Town of West Hartford and mailed West Hartford Human & Leisure Services, 50 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT, 06107. If you have questions about the application process, please email us using the form below.

~Thank You~

If you have further questions about the program that are not answered here, please submit your question below.