Kalika Valentine-Erickson/ Winonan

Winona State University alumni have participated in many activities within the community after graduation. Gabey Davis, who graduated in May of 2014 with an athletic training and nutrition degree, is now helping people with disabilities learn to ride a bike through a program called iCan Bike with the help of fellow alumna, Mindy Reinardy.

Davis volunteered for the program, previously known as Lose The Training Wheels (LTTW), for six years in Milwaukee as part of her high school’s National Honors Society before she was hired on in the summer of 2013.

“I was excited but nervous. I never really had one-on-one experience working with kids, peers or adults with special needs,” Davis said. “It wasn’t until volunteering with LTTW that I realized how much of a passion I have for working with and advocating for people with different capabilities.”

The iCan Bike program is for people with disabilities aged eight and over. The iCan Shine website, which is the parent organization of the iCan Bike program, addresses the understanding that people with disabilities never experience riding or owning a two-wheeled bicycle independently.

iCan Bike was founded by Richard E. Klein, a mechanical engineering professor in Illinois, who spent more than twenty years dedicated to research before the first camp through iCan Bike was held in 1999 in La Crosse, Wis.

There are two different kinds of programs available through iCan Bike. One program option is a camp which happens mostly during summer months but is also available during week-long school breaks. The second option is an after school bike program, available during the academic year at the end of the school day. Instead of five bike-riding sessions, there is typically only one or two.

“The ASP — after school program — diversity training includes communication improvement, team building and disability awareness,” Davis said. “The training promotes inclusion and friendships amongst students with and without disabilities.”

Davis’ motivation stemmed from student bonds made through the program.

“This piece of the ASP was my biggest inspiration to work with the program,” she said. “I never had an opportunity like that in high school, and I wanted to be able to spread diversity awareness and knowledge to youth and young adults who are our future.”

Peers volunteer as spotters for the participants of the program after they attend a training session focused on learning about various disabilities and the challenges people who have these disabilities face.

All of the volunteers for the Winona session of iCan Bike, held at the Winona Senior High School this past spring semester, were high school students. Part of the reason for this was to teach young students how to work with people who have disabilities.

Davis spoke of the impact spotters and riders made on one another when referring to an article previously written about the program where a mother was excited because her son with autism got high-fives from the volunteers.

“The peer volunteers had no idea how much of an impact a simple high five or ‘that was awesome!’ can make to someone who often doesn’t feel included,” Davis said. “It shows them how such a small gesture can make such a difference in someone’s life.”

Davis has said only positive things about the iCan Bike program.

“It’s pretty obvious that our iCan Bike program has a goal to teach individuals with special needs how to become a life long independent two-wheel bike rider,” she said. “However, it is so much more than just learning to ride a bike.”

The program creates independence, success and an increase in self-worth, self-confidence and self-esteem, according to Davis.

iCan Shine hopes to expand its program offerings to include swimming, dancing, gymnastics and horseback riding. Davis said she plans on bringing iCan Bike back to Winona in the future.

“This program opens so many doors for the riders and their families,” Davis said. “The riders are introduced to an environment where their abilities are embraced and their success at camp proves to them how much they are truly capable of.”