Katrina Lopez, statewide coordinator for the WalkSafe program, shows pre-schooler Quentavius Boges how to safely cross the street at a simulated crosswalk on the Linda Ray Intervention Center’s playground.

Parents and children from the Department of Psychology’s Linda Ray Intervention Center came together recently to practice safe-street crossing at an outreach event sponsored by the University of Miami WalkSafe program. Part of the KiDZ Neuroscience Center at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, the program is designed to reduce the number of pediatric pedestrian injuries through the use of evidence-based educational curriculum and community outreach activities.

The Linda Ray Intervention Center’s staff had identified the need to promote safe street-crossing strategies for the families enrolled in their program. The children, who meet criteria for early intervention services, and their adult caregivers were able to practice safe crossing last month on simulated crosswalks set up on the playground and joined in arts and crafts projects about safe-walking strategies.