Special-Needs Business Profile: SPECS4US

Maria Dellapina, an optician, has been working on the idea for SPECS4US for four years, and her first group of frames went on sale in June 2008. The company name stands for Superior Precision Eyewear for Children who are Special.

"I have designed a frame line of glasses for children with Down Syndrome and other special needs," Dellapina says. "The mission is simple: To improve the sight and quality of life for children with DS and other special needs by providing custom frames that fit your children's unique needs."

Dellapina has a nine-year-old daughter with Down syndrome, whose eyewear needs provided business inspiration. "When Erin was almost two she needed glasses," she recalls. "I have been in the optical business since 1977. I knew how to run an optical lab and worked with doctors in private practice, where I was also a frame buyer. So when it came time to get glasses for Erin, I looked all over for a frame that would fit correctly. I called on all my friends who were frame reps, but I just couldn't find what I needed. I would get so frustrated with how 'typical' frames fit her. I just knew something needed to be done."

"I thought I knew what changes needed to be made on a frame to get it to sit correctly on Erin's face," Dellapina explains. "She was always looking over the glasses or tipping her head way back to see through the center of them. So I started drawing up designs. I talked to friends who sold different frame lines to see if they knew how I could get these made. One of them did go to a big children's manufacturer to talk about it. They didn't think there was a market for it. I had done my research and knew that 87 percent of preschool children with DS needed glasses. There was a market for this, and I wanted to help."

SPECS4US is a full-time job for Dellapina. "I lost my job eighteen months ago because Erin needed surgery and was in and out of the hospital so much that I knew I needed to be with her. I had not been able to work out of the house, so I knew I had to make this work for all of us. Now I can work from home and if I get a call saying I need to pick her up from school because she is sick, I can without a worry."

The best thing about the business, Dellapina says, is "helping so many kids. Erin is now wearing a pair of glasses that I rarely see her pushing back up on her face to see, and is no longer hiding them from me. The Emails I get daily from parents also make this adventure truly worthwhile." Those notes have come "from all over the world. I have shipped frames to Canada, Spain, and Australia. The support and encouragement I have received is truly amazing. The most frequent message is the heightened quality of life and attitude these frames have brought to the children, beyond just their ability to see correctly."

While it may be too soon to declare the business a success, Dellapina says "just knowing that my daughter can enjoy her life clearly has made this business a success to me. Helping families with the same challenges I have faced is like icing on the cake. For that I feel truly blessed, which is the strongest measurement of success to me." The main challenge now is "getting the word out and making parents feel comfortable ordering over Internet. Many don't realize that I can help with sizing just by knowing the child's age or seeing a picture. Our community is so large and I want to reach everyone I can."

Looking ahead, Dellapina plans "to come up with more designs and sizes to help all ages and sizes. And I want to tell the world about this by being on Ellen or the Today show!" And maybe one day adding a young partner: "Erin is too young to really know what's going on now, but someday I'm sure she will be right beside me helping package and mail out frames!"

How did you get your frames made?

I started looking for a company who would make my design; that proved to be the hardest part. I did find a company in the U.S. who would make a frame from my own design. I contacted them, came up with the money they wanted for a prototype, and after several tries they sent me something that seemed to work, but I didn't think it was made strong enough. I had also worked with a local company on designing a plastic frame. It was going to be too costly for me to continue with them, so I decided to go back to the metal frame. Two years later I contacted the U.S. company again, and they lost all my records and said they were too busy to help me. I looked overseas. My first attempt was not a good experience; I tried again and found a company in Korea that worked with others in the U.S.

When did you find out your child had special needs?

I did not know Erin had Down Syndrome until the doctor came and told me in the recovery room after delivering her by an emergency C-Section. I was very surprised, to say the least.

How did the diagnosis affect your family?

I was lucky enough to have a wonderful pediatrician who sat with me an hour after she was born and talked to me about Erin and Down Syndrome. The nurses were also helpful, giving me information for support groups. I will admit, it took me a while to reach out to them. Having a child with special needs is a learning experience that the whole family has to go through. At that time, my oldest daughter was in college, my son was in junior high, and I had a two-year-old daughter at home. The older children were always researching DS. To my toddler, Erin was just a baby sister. It did, however, prove hard on my marriage. I felt I wasn't getting the support I needed and decided it was best if I did this on my own.

How is Erin doing now?

Erin just turned nine. She is doing pretty well. We have been through a couple tough years of being in and out of the hospital with an infection that turned out to be MRSA. She also has a rare thyroid condition. But all in all she is a very happy and smart little angel.

What advice would you give to other parents?

Don't be afraid to ask for help. There are so many support groups, and the Internet is an amazing source for information. The most important thing I've learned is that these children are gifts from above. Erin has taught me to be strong, to be patient, and to enjoy every day no matter what it brings.

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