Children ride their new, adaptive bicycles outside for the first time at the Midwestern Intermediate Unit 4 in Grove City on Thursday, June 4. Maura Farr/Butler Eagle

GROVE CITY — Alyssa Huffmyer, of Sharon, was initially recommended to the My Voice program to receive a communication device for her daughter, Sophia; so when the 5-year-old started to pay attention to bikes as well, she knew exactly who to call.

“Last year for PT (physical therapy), we tried the adaptive bike. She didn’t show any interest in it and then now she’s shown interest in her sibling’s bikes and scooters,” Huffmyer said.

Variety – The Children’s Charity, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit, provides adaptive bikes, strollers and communication devices, through its My Voice, My Stroller and My Bike programs. Each device is specially fit for children with disabilities in roughly 59 counties served by the charity across the state.

Variety spent Thursday, June 4, giving out 14 bikes and strollers to children across Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties.

Sophia was diagnosed with autism at 18 months old, and has required dedicated, wraparound services and occupational therapy since then. After seeing a speech therapist, Huffmyer was introduced to the program and she received her first iPad from Variety just months later.

Families receive their specially fit adaptive bicycles at the Midwestern Intermediate Unit 4 Thursday, June 4. Maura Farr/Butler Eagle

“Her speech therapist figured she would benefit from an AAC (augmentive and alternative communication) talking device, so she introduced me to this program and she’s made such progress in that time frame,” Huffmyer said.

With Sophia’s new wheels, she can enjoy the open air in a way she couldn’t have otherwise. Her mother said Sophia had never enjoyed sitting in strollers or even grocery carts, making her interest in a bike monumental.

“I figured we could take her to Buhl Park and Hermitage and everything,” Huffmyer said.

Having a bike also gives her a new bonding opportunity with her siblings and friends, allowing her to pedal the neighborhood alongside them. Huffmyer said Sophia currently enjoys sitting and scooting around on the family’s Hoverboard, but a bike will take her to new heights.

“All her siblings got bikes for their birthdays, so I figured she has a chance, and then we’re gonna get her a helmet soon,” Huffmyer said.