Pediatric physical therapist Cassidy Sanchez created the device, which includes a headrest and front end designed to keep it from rolling over while a child crawls. Sanchez teamed up with engineers at the University of Wisconsin to develop it and keep costs down. The Coggon Crawler does not come assembled. Instead, it is built from 3-D printed pieces using free instructions available through the Grainger Engineering Design Lab at the University of Wisconsin.
Sanchez said the design lets kids stay upright and mobile while still interacting with people around them, something that matters during a stage of development built around exploring and connecting with others.
For families here with a child who has a physical disability, this means a potential alternative to commercial equipment that can run expensive or hard to access. Anyone with a 3-D printer, or access to one through a school, library or maker space, can download the files and build the crawler themselves. Families can also request instructions and guidance directly, skipping the wait for manufacturer or insurance approval.
A physical therapist turned a printer file into a piece of medical equipment.