UCF Provides Modified Kiddie Cars to Special Toddlers, Only the Beginning

Barnabas Dowdell was born with Down syndrome, and moving his lower body is a challenge. So his mom was astonished when the 13-month-old drove his new retrofitted motorized toy racecar zooming past a UCF building.

“This by far exceeded all my expectations,” said his mother Shannon Dowdell of Merritt Island. “I came here hoping he’d enjoy himself, and inside of 30 seconds of being in the little car he was doing things he’s never done before. He pushed up, he’s never done that before. His mobility has already improved and I’m just so grateful.”