CENTENNIAL —Tucked back in an nondescript Centennial business park, Kids Mobility Network is a little nonprofit that makes a big impact on the lives of children with disabilities and their families.
Born out of its founders’ desire to see their daughter’s first wheelchair go to good use after she outgrew it, Kids Mobility Network’s Peter and Christy Kopp and their staff have provided nearly 850 uninsured or under-insured children with donated, refurbished wheelchairs, walkers, adaptive bikes and other medical equipment since 2005.
The Kopp’s daughter, Kayla, 16, is now in her fifth wheelchair. The family’s insurance provides a $2,000 benefit for durable medical equipment like wheelchairs, Peter Kopp said, but Kayla’s fourth chair alone — now in the nonprofit warehouse waiting for a new owner — was $7,500.
“Kids outgrow this stuff like they do pants or shoes. The only difference is this stuff is terrifically expensive,” Peter Kopp said. “When you’re a special needs family like my family — you want to help people. Our whole idea is to provide independence, safety and mobility to the kiddos.”
When a request comes in — whether it be from Arapahoe County, across the country or even internationally, in some cases — Kopp and T.D. Schenck, an assistive technology professional who has contracted with the nonprofit for the last nine years, get to work. The two customize the required piece to meet the medical needs of the child it will go to. The nonprofit then has the child come in for a seating session with Schenck where the equipment can be adjusted.
“There is no other organization in the U.S. that does this,” Kopp said of the customization and seating sessions. “Fitting parts to (kids’) needs is critical for the right long-term solution.”
Esmeralda Torres brought her 13-year-old son, Jesus Hidalgo, to the nonprofit to pick up a supine stander last week. The device, which Kopp estimated would cost $4,700 new, provides spinal and leg support while allowing the user to stand upright and bear some of his or her own weight.
Jesus, who has cerebral palsy, had not been upright since he outgrew his last stander in July, his mother said.
The 13-year-old was all smiles as Schenck fitted the stander to his legs and cranked it into an upright position. Standing is critical for stronger muscles and joints, gastrointestinal function and blood flow, and it facilitates Jesus’ social interaction with family and friends, Schenck said.
Jesus’ family first connected with Kids Mobility Network after their car was stolen in 2009. The vehicle was found, but Jesus’ wheelchair was not. Kids Mobility Network supplied Jesus with a new chair, and since then has donated six other pieces of equipment to him, Kopp said.
“They are Jesus’ legs. They move him,” Esmeralda Torres said of the organization. “They are like angels. That’s really what it is.”
Kopp said all families are asked to make a $200 payment to help cover processing and foster a sense of ownership in the equipment. He said that as the organization — which he described as “woefully underfunded” — continues to develop relationships, he hopes it will someday have corporate sponsors cover all of its costs.
So far, Kids Mobility Network has provided more than 1,060 pieces of equipment to kids as far away as Peru and Africa and provided an estimated community benefit of over $3.5 million, Kopp said.
Dr. Susan Biffl, a specialist in pediatric rehabilitation at both Children’s Hospital Colorado and Denver Health, said she has been aware of Kids Mobility Network for years and feels its mission provides great benefits to children with disabilities.
“Kids being able to participate in a community and all the activities they love is really the mission of rehabilitation medicine,” she said. “Having light-weight equipment that fits their body well is just so important. It’s good for their self esteem and their independence.”
Joe Rubino: 303-954-2953 or jrubino@denverpost.com
Kids mobility network
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