On World Down Syndrome Day, observed annually on March 21, children of all ages from across Los Angeles received very special gifts: adapted bicycles of various sizes and styles.
The bike giveaway was held at the LA Convention Center during the 2025 meeting of the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine. The annual meeting brings together genetics professionals from around the globe.
ACMG President Dr. Nancy Mendelsohn said the bike event – co-sponsored by ACMG and Revvity, a life science and diagnostics company – is presented every year as part of the gathering’s “Day of Caring,” which she described as the “most joyful moment of the meeting.”
“We join together each year to give children with special needs bicycles,” she said. This year, they selected the event to coincide with World Down Syndrome Day, which she said is a day “to pause [and] recognize children with Down syndrome and their unique qualities and gifts.”
ACMG partnered with the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles (DSALA), who selected the families for the giveaway.
“Having these bicycles being given to our kids is a great opportunity for us to be able to do something at home [with my son] and help get him active and mobile in different ways,” said Judith Avalos. “Getting [him] on the bike is a little difficult, but with practice, I know that we’re going to be able to help him improve his motor skills and his physical skills.”
The free bikes were selected based on the specific needs and capabilities of each child or teen. Some of the bicycles were toddler or kid size with upright handlebars and traditional training wheels, and others were small or adult-size tricycles with wider seats, headrests and backrests, cushioned handlebars, push handles and/or with foot and body straps.
Sandra Baker, director of operations and family support for DSALA, expressed appreciation to both ACMG and Revvity for the adaptive bicycles, which she described as “thoughtfully designed to support the unique needs and abilities of children with Down syndrome.” She also thanked the organizations “for aiding DSALA in our mission to serve our community – we celebrate the joy, independence and sense of belonging these [bike] creations bring to [our] families.”
Parent Mireya Meza said she’s thankful to have the support of organizations such as ACMG and DSALA.
“It’s been amazing – the help, the support and knowing that I’m not going through this new journey by myself [because of] organizations that take their time to do something like this for families like mine,” said Meza, who has a young daughter with Down syndrome. “It’s a journey I wouldn’t trade for anything.”
Jenny Salmeron lauded the generosity of the entire special needs community and all the organizations that work together to make the Day of Caring a reality every year.
“This adaptive tricycle will allow our miracle child Jeremiah to continue his wonderful journey on wheels,” she said.
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