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TMT Project UPDATE
TMT Project UPDATE
Friday, April 24, 2026
Our first Toddler Mobility Trainer build is complete and has been approved by the admin team for delivery to the recipient, a little girl in Bloomington, IL. Here's some photos of the finished device. A request was received for another TMT device for a child in Peoria, IL, and we've signed up to make that one, too! Please reach out for more information if you are interested in sponsoring a full or partial build for a local child.
Printing Hope: Building a 3D-Printed Mobility Device for a Local Child
Printing Hope: Building a 3D-Printed Mobility Device for a Local Child
At Monkeys' Uncle 3D LLC, we are incredibly excited to announce that we have been selected as a vetted volunteer maker for the Toddler Mobility Trainer (TMT) program! Through this amazing initiative, organized by the nonprofit disability design group MakeGood, our company will be using our 3D printing capabilities to manufacture a custom mobility device for a local family in need.
The Need for Early Mobility
The Need for Early Mobility
For many young children with physical disabilities—such as Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, or developmental delays following NICU stays—moving around independently is a massive hurdle. Even when these kids are cognitively ready to explore and engage with their environment, they may lack the physical strength or coordination to crawl or walk.
Unfortunately, commercial wheelchair options for children aged 1 to 8 are rarely available or affordable, and insurance barriers make it difficult to get them approved. This leaves a massive gap in early childhood accessibility, depriving kids of the critical independent movement they need for coordination and social development.
Enter the Toddler Mobility Trainer
Enter the Toddler Mobility Trainer
To solve this global shortage, the nonprofit MakeGood collaborated with industrial designers to create the Toddler Mobility Trainer (TMT). The TMT is a free, open-source mobility chair designed specifically to be built on standard consumer 3D printers.
Instead of waiting months and spending thousands of dollars, a volunteer organization like Monkeys' Uncle 3D LLC can completely print and assemble this device for around $200 in materials and hardware.
How we make it at Monkeys' Uncle 3D LLC:
How we make it at Monkeys' Uncle 3D LLC:
The Materials: Producing the chair requires about 10 spools of sturdy filament (like PETG or ABS) for the main body, and 2 to 3 spools of flexible TPU filament for the tires and soft seating cushions.
The Design: The engineering behind the TMT is brilliant. The entire chair goes together without any glue, using unique slot-fit joints and specially shaped pegs. It also uses accessible features, like specially designed hand grips on the outside of the wheels to help kids who might not have the dexterity to push a standard wheelchair rim.
The Aesthetics: The TMT features a colorful, playful design that sits low to the ground. This allows children to maintain eye contact and interact naturally with their peers, helping to reduce stigma and encourage social engagement.
Changing a Local Life
Changing a Local Life
Through MakeGood’s "maker-connect" platform, volunteer makers can claim requests to build these chairs for families worldwide. Monkeys' Uncle 3D LLC is deeply honored to be matched with a local family to build a TMT for their child. Over the coming weeks, our printers will be running around the clock to create the dozens of parts required to bring this chair to life.
Giving a child the freedom to propel themselves and explore their world for the very first time is an indescribable gift, and we are thrilled that our business can make a tangible, life-changing impact right here in our community.
To learn more about the TMT, MakeGood, or to sign up to volunteer, visit 3DMobility.org
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