Meet Teitinga
Sixteen-month-old Teitinga has spina bifida, and is expected to have little or no walking ability in later life, but the Waikato tot is and cheerful, he easily understands and follows instructions, and with the support of his family and young siblings he'll soon be a natural in his car.
His family have applied for a manual chair, but that's for real life.
His Gobabygo BMW means it's time to play – and the first control he focusses on is the horn... almost oblivious as the team discuss with his therapist, helped by a Coombes Johnston BMW technician, how best to set the car up for him
NOT SURE AT FIRST
WE'VE CONFIRMED TEITINGA NEEDS A FULL HARNESS, NOW MARK CHECKS THE HEIGHT AGAINST THE PRE-FITTED BACK SUPPORT, READY TO FIX IT FIRMLY IN PLACE
LOOK MUM, IT'S GOT A HORN!
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN YOU TOOT THE HORN IN YOUR OWN CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME. NOT DRIVING YET, THOUGH
GRASPING THE WHEEL
EXTRA HANDLES EASE STEERING FOR LITTLE HANDS. THROTTLE WORKED VIA A BUDDY SWITCH BY DAD ALONGSIDE UNTIL TEITINGA HAS THE HANG OF STEERING
lots of encouragement
AT FIRST THAT START CAN BE INTIMIDATING, BUT TEITINGA RESPONDS TO PLENTY OF ENCOURAGEMENT. WE HOPE TO SOON HAVE A SOFT-START SWITCH FOR YOUNGER KIDS, OR THOSE WITH WEAKER NECKS AND BACKS
Meet Teitinga
Forget driving, Teitinga loves beeping his horn