Caleb’s Story: Building Confidence and Independence

For the Heren family, riding bikes has always been about more than just exercise—it’s been a journey of creativity, patience, and perseverance.

“Riding a bike is one area where autism has made our family think outside the box,” says Cynthia Heren, whose son Caleb is autistic. “People often take for granted all the skills involved in riding a bike, and our local AMBUCS chapter played a big role in helping us find what worked for him.”

Finding a New Way Forward

When Caleb was younger, he started out riding a bike with training wheels like his sister. But as he grew taller, the training wheels couldn’t keep up—he became top-heavy and kept falling over. Each fall brought more frustration and fear.

“Balance, coordination, and muscle tone are all part of riding a bike,” Cynthia explains. “For many kids with autism, one or more of those areas can be a challenge. Caleb has great balance but struggles with coordination and muscle tone. Add in anxiety about falling and a bit of perfectionism, and you can see why this was so tough for him.”

Everything changed on July 4th, 2019, when Cynthia shared her frustration with another special needs parent. They told her about Amtrykes—adaptive tricycles provided by local AMBUCS chapters.

“They said, ‘You should check this out. These trikes are custom-built for each rider.’ And I thought, sign me up!”

A Perfect Fit

Caleb eagerly filled out his Amtryke application, writing, “I have many difficulties when riding my bike. It has only two wheels which causes me to lose my balance. I want a red trike with a bell, brakes, and a front basket.”

That fall, the family attended a fitting with Greater Champaign County AMBUCS, where Caleb test rode his first adaptive tricycle. “He was so excited that he made the assistant chase after him around the park,” Cynthia laughs.

Soon after, at a chapter lunch meeting, Caleb received his very own Amtryke—complete with a personalized plate, rear basket, and a bell just for him. “He was thrilled,” Cynthia remembers. “For the first time, he could ride safely and confidently.”

Confidence That Keeps Growing

For the next four years, the Herens enjoyed family bike rides together—something they once thought might never be possible. And this year, Caleb took another big step.

He joined a local homeschool meetup group that meets a bikeable distance away. “He rides there every week on his Amtryke,” Cynthia says. “The only challenge was that the other teens had bikes with multiple speeds, so he had to work harder to keep up.”

That challenge became motivation. Together, the family decided to try two wheels again—this time on Caleb’s terms.

“We focused on letting him be in control,” Cynthia says. “We told him it was just about trying something new.”

Three weeks later, Caleb did it—he rode a two-wheeled bike completely on his own. “He surprised even himself,” Cynthia says proudly. “We made a few adjustments to the seat and brakes, and he hasn’t looked back. Now he keeps up with the group every week.”

The Power of Patience and Progress

“If there’s one thing we’ve learned as a neurodivergent family, it’s that ‘not now’ doesn’t mean ‘never.’ Our kids are amazing, and when they put their minds to it, they can do great things,” Cynthia says.

Caleb’s Amtryke didn’t just give him mobility—it gave him confidence, motivation, and a bridge to independence.

“Thank you, AMBUCS, for the chance to build confidence and independence,” Cynthia adds. “We’ll never forget what this gift made possible.”