25 Florida students turn 9-year-old girl's wheelchair into Halloween throne
Eighth-grade students in Florida used STEM skills to transform a classmate's wheelchair into an angel-themed throne for Halloween. The project was part of a school initiative that encourages students to apply classroom learning to real-world community needs.
Why it matters
It demonstrates the positive impact of project-based learning and inclusive design in educational settings.
For nine-year-old Kaelyn Goodman, choosing a Halloween costume was not simply about finding the right dress or accessories. The Florida schoolgirl wanted to become a “princess angel”, but she was worried about how her wheelchair would fit into the costume. A group of 25 eighth-grade students at her school came up with a solution that allowed her to take part in the celebrations exactly as she had imagined.According to People Magazine, Kaelyn, who studies in fourth grade at Babcock Neighborhood School in Florida's Charlotte County, has congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS). According to the Mayo Clinic, it is a rare genetic condition affecting the nerves and muscles. Kaelyn uses a wheelchair when her muscles become tired, and her parents say it helps her remain independent.Instead of treating the wheelchair as something that needed to be hidden, the older students made it the centre of her Halloween costume.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in