Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

Expanded Walk! Bike! Fun! training rolling out to local educators

First-of-its-kind safety training meets the needs of students with disabilities

Event

Southern Minnesota educators will participate in expanded biking and walking safety training, now adapted for students of all abilities. Approximately 25 teaches will learn and experience safety drills and bikes designed for students with mobility limitations.

Date/Time/Location

• Thursday, June 28, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Immanuel Lutheran School, 421 N 2nd St, Mankato, MN 56001 (Google map)

• Best time for photo opportunities will be 12:30-2 p.m. when teachers will be on bikes, going through safety drills. Teachers will be able to see and ride bikes designed for students with mobility limitations. At 2 p.m., participants will go on a 2-mile bike ride.

Background

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is working with state and local partners including the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota (BikeMN) and Twin Cities Adaptive Cycling to introduce an expanded Walk! Bike! Fun! Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Curriculum that now includes support for students with mobility limitations. This is the nation’s first bicycling and walking safety curriculum adapted for youth with disabilities.

Project collaborators include MDH, Olmsted County Public Health, PartnerSHIP 4 Health, Courage Kenny Institute, Minneapolis Public Schools, BikeMN, Twin Cities Adaptive Cycling and Blue Earth County Public Health and schools.

Walk! Bike! Fun! helps children ages 5 -13 learn traffic rules and regulations, the potential hazards to traveling, and handling skills needed to bike and walk effectively, appropriately and safely through their community.

Mankato is one of two Minnesota locations introducing the training. Project collaborators are piloting the trainings and will use feedback from teachers to refine the curriculum and training over the next three years.

-MDH-

 

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