For most families, a child's first steps are a milestone to celebrate. At Easterseals Superior California, the team behind Ready, Set, Walk sees something more: every step is a way for a child to reach a friend, grab a toy, join a game or follow a sibling across the room.
Ready, Set, Walk is a play-based group program for children up to age 5 with mobility delays. It's a collaboration between Easterseals Superior California and California State University, Sacramento (Sac State), and it's built on a simple idea—that moving is how children get to the people and experiences that matter most to them.
Where Play Meets Practice
Each Ready, Set, Walk session is an hour-long group led by pediatric physical therapists. Children walk on mini-treadmills with support from their families and the program team, then practice moving, exploring and playing alongside other kids.
Children are referred to the program from many different sources when they show signs that they're ready to start walking. From there, the focus is on helping each child:
- Build independent mobility and movement skills
- Gain confidence through play and active exploration
- Connect with peers and caregivers
- Participate at home, in child care and in the community
- Reach toys, activities and daily routines more independently
A Full Circle of Support
Ready, Set, Walk builds on STEPS (Supported Treadmill Exercise Program, Sacramento State), developed by Dr. Katrin Mattern-Baxter, PT, DPT, within Sac State's Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Today, the program brings together Easterseals' experienced pediatric clinicians, Sac State and Alta California Regional Center. Each fall, Sac State's third-year physical therapy students also hold a pediatric clinic right here at Easterseals Superior California.
The program has grown step by step, too. Ready, Set, Walk began as a pilot treadmill program, became a volunteer-supported initiative, and then grew into the program families know today thanks to a 2024 grant from the Kelly Foundation.
Ready, Set, Walk is about much more than treadmills. Each session brings together everyone who plays a part in a child's growth—and everyone comes away with something.
Children build the strength, confidence and independence to move toward the people and things they love, while playing and making connections alongside peers.
Families and caregivers are right there alongside their children, supporting movement and play and sharing the experience with other families on a similar path.
Sac State students and recent graduates gain real-world experience in pediatric care, learning from Easterseals therapists what this work means to a family.
Easterseals therapists guide each session and mentor the next generation of pediatric physical therapists.
Together, it works like a full circle: children grow, families grow more confident, future therapists grow their skills, and more children in the Sacramento region gain access to the care they need.
Headed to St. Louis
The program's approach is drawing attention well beyond Sacramento. Rennie Saltzman, PT, DPT, Board-Certified Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy and Vice President of Pediatric Services at Easterseals Superior California, will present Ready, Set, Walk at the Practice Fair of the 2026 APTA Pediatrics Annual Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, on Friday, November 13. The annual conference brings together hundreds of pediatric physical therapists, researchers, educators and students from across the country.
At the Practice Fair, Saltzman will share the program's design, its evidence-informed approach, lessons learned and the partnerships that make it possible. Practice Fair presentations are also considered for the conference's Practice Fair Innovation Award.
"We're excited to share our program with physical therapists across the country! By showcasing our work and sharing practical resources, ideas and encouragement, we hope to inspire other therapists to create programs that help children build walking skills, confidence and independence," Saltzman said.
Learn More
Ready, Set, Walk is one way Easterseals Superior California works toward a community where children with disabilities are fully included and share the same experiences as their peers.
Ready, Set, Walk runs in seasonal sessions throughout the year, with 2027 sessions to be announced soon. If you think the program may be a good fit for your child, fill out the Ready, Set, Walk Interest Form to be the first to hear when enrollment opens, or visit the Ready, Set, Walk page to learn more.
