It might seem unusual that Kye’s bike-riding journey all began with a horror movie, but that’s exactly what happened. Inspired by Bill Denbrough’s Silver bike in the film adaptation of Stephen King’s IT, Kye dreamed of having one just like it.
With a love of all things spooky, Kye was thrilled when that dream became a reality at Christmas last year, when his mother gifted him a bike.
But owning a bike was only the beginning.
Kye had owned bikes before, but learning to ride never quite clicked. Each attempt brought challenges, yet his determination to master the skill only continued to grow.
“He didn’t spend much time riding as a child. He found it difficult from a motor skills perspective,” explains occupational therapist Daniela, “but his determination only grew. He wanted to ride a bike.”
While the inspiration may have come from a movie, everyone in Kye’s support network recognised learning to ride would bring much broader benefits, including improved gross motor skills, physical wellbeing and self-confidence.
By getting to know Kye, his interests and what mattered to him, the occupational therapy team in Coffs Harbour saw an opportunity to make his goal more achievable. Alongside his occupational therapist and support worker, student occupational therapists working under supervision joined the journey, providing extra hands-on support and more opportunities for practice.
The first challenge? Finding training wheels that would fit an adult-sized bike – something that proved much harder than anyone expected.
Once the bike was ready, practical riding sessions focused on therapeutic exercises to help build Kye’s core strength and improve his balance and stability. Kye practised shifting his weight from side to side and learned techniques to propel himself forward.
That extra time to practise, supported by the student occupational therapists, gave Kye more opportunities to build his balance, coordination and confidence at his own pace.
With the foundations in place, Kye was physically ready to start learning to ride. However, before getting on the bike himself he insisted that his support worker and the student therapists take turns riding it first.
“Everyone took turns showing him the movement so he could see it,” Daniela recalls.
Watching the people he trusted gave Kye the confidence he needed to give it a go himself.
That trust, encouragement and persistence have paid off in a big way.
“Kye is quite anxious and will always need support from trusted people in his network,” says Daniela. “More than anything, he needs people to believe in him. He can do it. He just needs that encouragement. And then when he does get it, he’s elated.”
In the past 10 months, Kye has made incredible progress. He quickly mastered the basics. Now, he has already moved on to the next step: riding a balance bike.
“Occupational Therapy has been amazing for him. He’s had so many gains so quickly,” Daniela says.
A big part of that success has been Kye’s willingness to keep trying.
“Encouragement is a building block for Kye,” says Kye’s Mum Tracy. “With his determination and the help from his beautiful support system, no challenge is too big.”
For Kye, learning to ride a bike is about much more than mastering a new skill.
“I think for Kye, that bike is everything rolled into one. It is a challenge, it is independence, it is a project, it is a way of showing off his skills. It is a way of being just like the kids in the movies,”
says Tracy.
“His ultimate goal is to ride around Coffs Harbour and enjoy longer bike rides, taking in the fresh air and exploring his community on two wheels.”
For the people supporting him, Kye’s journey has been just as rewarding.
Through the support of supervised Occupational Therapy students, Kye can enjoy more sessions and extra therapeutic support as he works towards his goal.
Having extra people in his corner meant more opportunities to practise, more encouragement on difficult days and more chances to celebrate the small wins that eventually led to big breakthroughs.
“We tell students that they’re not going to change the world in a day,” Daniela says. “But with someone like Kye, you can make a real difference in a short period of time. And that’s pretty cool.”
From a movie-inspired Christmas wish to confidently tackling new challenges, Kye’s bike-riding journey shows what can happen when determination is matched with support, encouragement and a team of people who believe in you.
We asked Kye what his next big goal was. His answer? Spray painting his bike silver.
