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Amazing Accomplishment

Special-needs kids learn to ride bikes at week-long Friendship Circle event.

M

ost parents view teaching
their children how to ride
their bicycles as a rite of
parenthood and childhood. Sadly, this
isn't the case for every family.
Now, thanks to West Bloomfield-
based Friendship Circle, children with

special needs are able to enjoy the fun
of taking a bike ride.
For the second year, Friendship
Circle teamed up with the national
group, I Can Shine (formerly known
as Lose the Training Wheels), to make
this experience a reality for 40 chil-

dren with special needs.
A five-day bike-riding clinic was
held recently at West Bloomfield High
School.
Each child was paired with two
instructors for 90-minute lessons.
Smiles erupted everywhere, from stu-

dents, instructors and parents. By the
end of the week, students were riding.
After this accomplishment, many
children also started to exhibit inde-
pendent behavior at home, which helps
to open up an array of opportunities for
them. ❑

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With the assistance of various volunteer teachers, Shoshana Arnold, 9, of

Farmington Hills learns to ride a two-wheeler.

20

,ugust

8 • 2013

