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NEWS RELEASE

June 18, 2010

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“Lose the Training Wheels” Program for Disabled Children & Adults Comes to Howard County

Co-Hosted by Howard County Dept. of Recreation & Parks and the Autism Society

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks and the Howard County Autism Society will co-host “Lose the Training Wheels™” (LTTW), a program that teaches disabled children and adults how to ride a conventional bike. The camp, which is open to anyone with a developmental disability, will be held June 28 through July 2, from 8:30 am to 4:45 pm at the Glenwood Recreation Center, 2400 Route 97 in Cooksville.

“We are very pleased to be able to partner with the Autism Society and bring this innovative program to Howard County for the first time,” said County Executive Ken Ulman. “The Department of Recreation & Parks has a long history of inclusion, and this program will do far more than just teach participants how to ride a bike; it will help them gain independence and give them the self confidence they need to tackle other challenges that come their way.”

The “LTTW” program was pioneered by Dr. Richard E. Klein, an engineer, working with students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. What started out as one camp in 1999 has now grown to 50 camps across the U.S. and in Canada.

“Advocating for individuals with disabilities and helping them achieve better access to recreational opportunities is one of our most important missions, said Susan Potts, Recreation Manager for Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks, who was recently awarded the Autism Society’s “Community Partner of the Year” award. “I want to thank Howard County’s Autism Society for suggesting a program that has the potential to enrich a great many lives.”

To register for the limited spaces that remain in the Lose the Training Wheels Program, contact the Howard County Autism Society at (410) 290-3466.