Teacher Carries Paralyzed Student Through Rugged Park So She Won't Miss Another Field Trip

June 10, 2026

A Kentucky teacher made sure a 10 year old student in a wheelchair got to experience a school field trip she would have otherwise missed.

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Ryan Neighbors, a fourth grader at Tully Elementary in Louisville, was born with spina bifida, a condition that affects the development of the spine and spinal cord. While she thrives in the classroom, field trips have often been out of reach due to accessibility challenges.

In the past, Ryan stayed behind on field trip days and was given alternate educational activities. But that meant missing out on the memories and experiences her classmates would later talk about.

When Ryan's class planned a visit to Falls of the Ohio State Park in Indiana, her family assumed this trip would be no different.

Then teacher Jim Freeman stepped in with an extraordinary offer. He volunteered to carry Ryan through the park using a special backpack designed for rugged terrain.

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Photos from the day show Freeman hiking through the park with Ryan on his back, allowing her to explore alongside her classmates instead of watching from the sidelines.

"It melted my heart," King said. "He's not even Ryan's teacher and he was so pure hearted that he wanted to make sure that she was included and not left out and she got to feel like one of her peers."

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For Ryan, the experience was unforgettable.

"When I got to see the fossils and stuff, I was like, wow, that's like, really cool. I haven't gotten to see that before," she said.

Thanks to one teacher's kindness, a field trip that might have been missed became a memory Ryan will carry with her for years to come.