Stateline Robotics students design a motorized wheelchair for a boy with Cerebral Palsy

For the first time, a boy with Cerebral Palsy is able to be independent all thanks to the Stateline Robotics Team.

Seven-year-old Jack Hughes was born with Cerebral Palsy and because of his disability, he could never play like the other kids.

"As a parent, it's the one thing that when you have a child with a disability that you want them to have friends,” said Michelle Hughes, Jack's Mother.

Jack’s parents bought a motorized toy car and reached out to Hononegah High School's Stateline Robotics Team to see if they could find a way to customize it to Jack’s needs.

"We were looking for them to adjust the double joysticks to just one side," Michelle said.

But the robotics team ended up doing a whole lot more.

"We started by getting the wiring done and then programming it so we had the base and it moved,” said Zach Johnson, Robotics Team.

"Then we wanted to keep him comfortable with the seat and we wanted to make sure he had his head positioned right and that he was comfortable with what he was in," said Jayden Dahlberg, Robotics Team.

To help make things a little bit easier for Jack they also have a controller that allows them to move it themselves.

"It's great because I can see him at school now playing with his friends and it makes me happy," said Molly Hughes, Jack’s Older Sister.

Molly has played with him every day since he got a new chair.

"He likes to spin in a circle and then like stop and run forward and hit me with it. That's one of his favorite things to do," Molly said.

The Hononegah team will share instructions online so other teams can help people in their community.