The AmTryke® Therapeutic Tricycle Project

National AMBUCS™, Inc. is a non-profit service organization whose mission outreach is "to help provide opportunities for independence for people with disabilities." In 1996, as part of that mission outreach, National AMBUCS™ started the AmBility™ Program, the cornerstone of which is the AmTryke® Therapeutic Tricycle Project. Since 1996 National AMBUCS™ has provided over 5000 'trykes' to children across the United States and several foreign countries.

A physical therapist was looking for a way to motivate her pediatric clients in therapy and asked an AMBUCS™ chapter to help her provide a tricycle that would help with muscular development, tone, build self-esteem, and give them the experience of the thrill of riding. The Longview, Texas chapter took up the challenge and the AmTryke® therapeutic tricycle was born. The AmTryke® therapeutic tricycle is special in that the continuous chain mechanism works both the arms and legs together letting the stronger limbs help the weaker in propelling the tryke. This tricycle can benefit children with low muscle tone (such as spina bifida) and children with high tone (such as cerebral palsy). Children with coordination, balance, or strength problems can benefit from the tryke.

The AmTryke® Therapeutic Tricycle

At present there are three sizes of trykes in production. The Regular 12" front wheel tricycle is for children approximately 4 to 8 years of age, with a height of 36 to 41 inches, and an inseam of 17 to 21 inches in length. The Large 16" front wheel tricycle is for children approximately 8 years of age and older, with a height of 41 inches and taller, and an inseam of 21 to 31 inches in length. Both of these tricycles have a steering control pin that provides graduated steering of straight ahead, 20 degrees right or left, and free motion. The All Terrain tricycle has the large pneumatic tires like an ATV. This tricycle is not for everyone, since the tires make the tryke heavier and it has free steering like a regular tricycle. This tricycle is for children approximately 9 to 12 years of age, 38 to 42 inches in height, and an inseam measurement of 19 to 24 inches. We will add a new style of tricycle to our line in mid-October. The Toddler will be for children approximately 2 to 5 years of age, up to 36 inches in height, and an inseam of 15 to 18 inches.

Before you make any decision about the AmTryke® therapeutic tricycle or any other piece of mobility equipment, we recommend you speak with your child's therapist concerning the piece of equipment. National AMBUCS™, Inc. and AmTryke®, LLC believe in therapist intervention with the 'trykes.'

The Wish List Process

The ability to pay for an AmTryke® therapeutic tricycle is not a determining factor in obtaining one. The Wish List is for those parents that are unable to afford the cost of the "tryke." To place a child's name on our Wish List requires a therapist's evaluation and agreement that the child will benefit from an AmTryke® therapeutic tricycle. These evaluations can be performed by a therapist at one of our Demonstration Sites throughout the county where your child will be able to try out the tricycle. You can check to see if there is a Demonstration Site in your area by going to our website or you can call the AMBUCS™ Resource Center at (336)869-2166. The site has the necessary paperwork that you will be required to submit. You will need to send the forms to your local AMBUCS® chapter or to the AMBUCS™ Resource Center. If there is not a Demonstration Site near you, your therapist or physician can perform the assessment for you. The forms you will need to submit can be obtained online at www.ambucs.com/Amtryke. You will need to fill out the Request Form and have your therapist or physician fill out and sign off on the Assessment Form. We can also mail you these forms be contacting Pam Burleson at the AMBUCS™ Resource Center. All forms must be received before a child's name can be placed on the Wish List. If the assessment is not being performed by one of the Demonstration Sites, it is important that the arm length and inseam measurements are done properly as this is how the correct size tryke is chosen for your child.

Once a child's name is placed on the Wish List, it remains there until a chapter can raise the funds to purchase and provide the tryke for that child. National AMBUCS™, Inc. is a service organization and each chapter raises funds within their community to provide trykes for children. Depending on the availability of funds and the length of the list, it may take as long as a year to provide a tryke. But each child will get one. For those parents requesting the AmTryke® therapeutic tricycle outside the United States, covering the shipping costs would be helpful.

Purchasing an AmTryke® Therapeutic Tricycle

For those parents that can afford to purchase the AmTryke® therapeutic tricycle, the Regular tricycle is $399, the Large is $599, and the All Terrain is $499. All have a $33 shipping/handling fee for shipment within the continental United States. Shipping can be arranged to areas outside the continental United States, but shipping quotes will be on an individual basis.

In the effort to make the AmTryke® therapeutic tricycle as adaptable as possible for an individual child's needs, an accessory line has been developed. All trykes and accessories can be viewed at www.ambucs.com, click on AmTrykes®. Accessory items are shipped from the AMBUCS™ Resource Center located in High Point, North Carolina. For shipment within the continental US, there is a minimum shipping/handling fee of $10.00. Shipping costs outside of the US would have to be determined.

Please contact Pam Burleson, AmTryke® Coordinator, by email at pamb[AT SIGN]ambucs.com or call (336)869-2166 for further information or answers to specific questions. Giving children smiles as they take their first ride on their own "set of wheels" is a great way to achieve our mission.