Looking for equipment for a child with disabilities? These parents took up the challenge to come up with their own solutions. They've taken what worked for them and marketed it to help other parents. Could you follow in their footsteps?
DreamCatcher Weighted Blankets
Photo courtesy of Dreamcatcher Weighted Blankets
Proprietor/Parent: Eileen Jackson
Business Description: DreamCatcher "specializes in custom weighted products for those individuals that benefit from them," according to Jackson. Among the items offered are lap pads, lap blankets, wrap blankets, crib blankets, and blankets for twin-, full-, queen-, and king-size beds. Most are custom-made with fabrics and weights specified by the customer. ... Read more
Business Description: DreamCatcher "specializes in custom weighted products for those individuals that benefit from them," according to Jackson. Among the items offered are lap pads, lap blankets, wrap blankets, crib blankets, and blankets for twin-, full-, queen-, and king-size beds. Most are custom-made with fabrics and weights specified by the customer. ... Read more
Fun and Function
Photo courtesy of Fun and Function
Proprietor/Parent: Aviva Weiss
Business Description: "We create and sell affordable and cool therapeutic toys, educational resources and clothing to facilitate each child's development and fullest potential," says Weiss. Categories on the site include Sensory, Perception, Fine Motor, Gross Motor, Speech/Oral, Incentives, and Equipment. ... Read more
Business Description: "We create and sell affordable and cool therapeutic toys, educational resources and clothing to facilitate each child's development and fullest potential," says Weiss. Categories on the site include Sensory, Perception, Fine Motor, Gross Motor, Speech/Oral, Incentives, and Equipment. ... Read more
KeepingPace
Photo courtesy of KeepingPace
Proprietor/Parent: Lori Watson
Business Description: KeepingPace has been called the "new generation of orthopedic footwear designers," Watson reports with pride. "Our company regards themselves as a catalyst for change by innovatively designing and providing specialty footwear solutions for children wearing braces/AFOs." ... Read more
Business Description: KeepingPace has been called the "new generation of orthopedic footwear designers," Watson reports with pride. "Our company regards themselves as a catalyst for change by innovatively designing and providing specialty footwear solutions for children wearing braces/AFOs." ... Read more
Ross Daniel Adaptive Apparel
Photo courtesy of Susan Kleiman
Proprietor/Parent: Susan Kleiman
Business Description: "Ross Daniel Adaptive Apparel's slogan is 'Fashionable Solutions for Special Needs.' Though the product line right now is limited to socks, Kleiman plans to expand into a variety of 'easy to put on, stylish clothing for special-needs kids and teens.'" ... Read more
Business Description: "Ross Daniel Adaptive Apparel's slogan is 'Fashionable Solutions for Special Needs.' Though the product line right now is limited to socks, Kleiman plans to expand into a variety of 'easy to put on, stylish clothing for special-needs kids and teens.'" ... Read more
Sensory Playthings
Photo courtesy of Sensory Playthings
Proprietor/Parent: Rebecca Brown
Business Description: Sensory Playthings offers "unique, handmade developmental toys and accessories for babies and special needs children," Brown explains, listing such items as "multi-sensory tactile playmats designed to be used on trays of wheelchairs, high chairs, play tables; Veltex vests that you can velcro toys or sensory items to for the child with limited use of arms or visual impairment; sensory quilts, handknit tactile balls, bibs, and baby blankets." ... Read more
Business Description: Sensory Playthings offers "unique, handmade developmental toys and accessories for babies and special needs children," Brown explains, listing such items as "multi-sensory tactile playmats designed to be used on trays of wheelchairs, high chairs, play tables; Veltex vests that you can velcro toys or sensory items to for the child with limited use of arms or visual impairment; sensory quilts, handknit tactile balls, bibs, and baby blankets." ... Read more
The Special Needs Store
Image courtesy of The Special Needs Store
Proprietor/Parent: Kelly Savage
Business Description: "We are an online retail store which offers a wide variety of resources and products for children with special needs and developmental delays," says Savage. "Our goal is to make the lives of parents, therapists, and educators of children with special needs and developmental delays easier by enabling them to find a wide variety of resources in one location." ... Read more
Business Description: "We are an online retail store which offers a wide variety of resources and products for children with special needs and developmental delays," says Savage. "Our goal is to make the lives of parents, therapists, and educators of children with special needs and developmental delays easier by enabling them to find a wide variety of resources in one location." ... Read more
Steps4Kids LLC
Photo courtesy of Lucile Hooton Lynch
Proprietor/Parent: Lucile Hooton Lynch
Business Description: The primary focus of Steps4Kids, according to Lynch, is "the design of DVDs using video modeling, priming, and self-modeling to teach and support children. We also provide products to supplement the skills being demonstrated in the DVDs. Our goal is to provide persons responsible for teaching children with positive, effective visual tools, so that children can be successful in handling their academic, social, behavioral, and physical tasks." ... Read more
Business Description: The primary focus of Steps4Kids, according to Lynch, is "the design of DVDs using video modeling, priming, and self-modeling to teach and support children. We also provide products to supplement the skills being demonstrated in the DVDs. Our goal is to provide persons responsible for teaching children with positive, effective visual tools, so that children can be successful in handling their academic, social, behavioral, and physical tasks." ... Read more
