Bicycle Academy Gives Kids Wings To Fly

MASTIC, NY — It was a summer of big accomplishments for some kids who learned, for the first time, how to ride bicycles.

The William Floyd Bicycle Academy, founded by occupational therapist Ed Diaz, recently wrapped up its fifth summer of helping children learn how to master the skill.

The year's program was the Bicycle Academy’s largest yet; 50 students joined, with another 40 learning during integrated occupational therapy. From its inception in 2014, nearly 200 students have benefited from the William Floyd Bicycle Academy, the district said.

“There is such a need that people are constantly coming to me all throughout the year,” Diaz said. “This year we have had an influx in our general education population requesting to join the program. We accommodate as many as we can, always striving to provide one-on-one instruction.”

With learning how to ride independently being the long-term goal, many students made incremental progress along the way including learning how to balance, turn, pedal, start, and stop, all of which are skills required to ride without assistance, he said.

“I watch their determination grow with each phase, with each move forward and with each momentary difficulty. I hear their words of encouragement to themselves and to others. I see their confidence grow with each and every task tried, practiced and mastered. To me, watching the students’ self-esteem and sense of self-worth continue to grow and flourish is the most important aspect,” Diaz added.

Volunteers from Carmella Currao’s class worked to set up the program each week helped to make the program a success, as did Frank Brust, Laurel Colonna, Susan Dubois, Amy Nardi, Lisa Pedota, Ravi Seeram, Josh Young and more; it would also not be possible without the generous donations from the staff and community including the United Paraprofessional & Teaching Assistant Association, which donated three balance bikes this year, the district said.

The William Floyd Bicycle Academy is scheduled to return for a sixth year next summer. All William Floyd students and parents are welcome to join, whether as riders or volunteers. Anyone interested is encouraged to email Mr. Diaz at ediaz@wfsd.k12.ny.us.

“The feeling I get is hard to describe. Of course most people understand the pride students feel when they master components of riding a bike or master riding," Diaz said.

With students having a variety of differing needs, or requiring specialized equipment, Diaz said, "For me, watching the euphoria when one of our students achieves his or her goal is an indescribable feeling, especially when a student was deemed or perceived by others to be ‘unable’ to ride a bike. It’s like witnessing a person experiencing the feeling of hitting a hole in one in golf, or a grand slam in baseball for the very first time. There are really no words to describe it. . . It is the driving force behind what we do and it never gets old.”

Patch courtesy photos.