Freedom Wheels Bikes

The FREEDOM WHEELS Modified Bike Program gives a new kind of independence to children with disabilities by allowing them to ride a bike for the first time.

Freedom Wheels modifies bikes to meet the individual needs of each child. Standard bikes are not designed to provide the support needed by children with disabilities.  TADVIC’s highly skilled and innovative team of therapists, engineers and volunteers help children with disabilities to enjoy mobility and a form of recreation previously unavailable to them. They do this by modifying standard bikes using a range of specially designed support components which can be added to standard bikes to enable them to be accessible to children with disabilities. These components, including a wide range of outrigger wheels, hand, foot and upper body supports, are made to be detachable to allow transport and storage of the bikes.

The modification process begins with an individual assessment of each child to identify the bike, components and modifications suited to their age, height, weight, type of disability and physical and cognitive abilities.  This assessment process is carried out by a TADVIC Occupational Therapist, supported by TADVIC technical volunteers and occurs during bike clinics conducted regularly at TADVIC in Melbourne and regional centres around Victoria.  Input from the carers and therapists (or health care professionals) form an important part of the assessment process.

Once the individual needs of the child are assessed, the TADVIC team of Freedom Wheels technical volunteers build the bike and fit the individually prescribed and measured supportive components. When the bike is built, the child and their carers return to TADVIC to trial it and have final adjustments made.  The bike is then available to take home. 

TADVIC do not charge children and their families for its assessment, building and fitting service. Clients pay only for the bike and components.

Freedom Wheels is proudly supported by Chain Reaction (Ultimate Corporate Bike Challenge).

Want to know more? Click on the links in the Download box on the right to download a Freedom Wheels brochure or application form. Click here to hear what the Freedom Wheels clients and their families have to say.