What is PLAAY on the Move?
At Cleveland State University, the PLAAY on the Move Lab brings together faculty, students, and community partners to reduce barriers to mobility and sensory exploration in young children. Using low-cost, innovative technologies, we support independence, inclusion, and joyful play for all ability levels.
Independent mobility is critical to development, especially from 6 months to 3 years of age when typically developing children move toward their interests, learn from their environment and form important neurological pathways. However, 6% to 9% of children have impairments that restrict mobility. By reducing the barriers to independence through assistive technologies, CSU clinicians can augment physical capabilities and optimize participation in play or leisure activities for age-appropriate development.
PLAAY on the Move with GoBabyGo at Cleveland State is promoting mobility in young children through a unique multidisciplinary project housed in the new Center for Innovation in Medical Professions. Together with families and researchers around the world, CSU faculty and students are developing low-cost, high-impact technologies ranging from battery-powered, ride-on cars for infants to hands-free harness systems for children and adults.
PUMA: Portable Upright Mobility Assistance System
The PUMA system is a soft harness-based mobility support designed to assist children with postural instability in upright positions such as kneeling, standing, and walking.
How It’s Used: Children are safely suspended in a dynamic harness that allows for full body support while still enabling freedom to move and explore.
Benefits:
- Promotes early upright mobility and weight-bearing
- Encourages core activation, postural control, and lower extremity strengthening
- Facilitates play-based therapy in a variety of developmental positions
- Builds confidence through safe movement in standing and walking tasks
The PLAAY Lab includes multiple PUMA systems with harnesses in various sizes, designed for use with toys, tables, mats, and even community settings. The system supports a wide range of developmental goals, from early standing to independent stepping.
GET INVOLVED
Whether you’re a therapist, family member, student, or community partner, we welcome your collaboration! The PLAAY on the Move Lab is always growing, learning, and sharing ways to help all children experience the power of movement.
- Partners across Northeast Ohio put children with motor and sensory impairments in the driver’s seat for social experiences and enrichment activities outside of home or school
- Volunteers work with the CSU team to build racecars, tracks and harnesses tailored to each child’s therapeutic goals and fulfill the universal need for independence, exploration and play.
- Sponsors help ensure any family can access these resources, participate in CSU programs and benefit from our services – regardless of income or ability.