Looking for specialized apparel and accessories for a child with special needs? 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?
Check My Tag
Photo courtesy of Check My Tag
Proprietor/Parent: Ria Sharon
Business Description: "Check My Tag offers food allergy management resources to parents of young children with food allergies," says Sharon. The company's main product is shirts and dresses with a tag on the inside back that can be filled out with the child's name, allergies, and other precautions. A "Check My Tag" label on one sleeve alerts helpers. ... Read more
Business Description: "Check My Tag offers food allergy management resources to parents of young children with food allergies," says Sharon. The company's main product is shirts and dresses with a tag on the inside back that can be filled out with the child's name, allergies, and other precautions. A "Check My Tag" label on one sleeve alerts helpers. ... Read more
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
E K Access
Photo courtesy of Susan Koch
Proprietor/Parent: Susan Koch
Business Description: "We make quality insulin pump cases with cool and fun designs," Koch explains. "We consider the safety aspect of our cases to be just as important as the fashion. Our cases were originally designed to withstand the activity of a young child and live up to the fashion sense of a teenager. With this combination, adults also find our cases to be a great alternative to the basic pump case. We carry unique Medical Alert/ID bands and bracelets made to accent our customers' own individual look." ... Read more
Business Description: "We make quality insulin pump cases with cool and fun designs," Koch explains. "We consider the safety aspect of our cases to be just as important as the fashion. Our cases were originally designed to withstand the activity of a young child and live up to the fashion sense of a teenager. With this combination, adults also find our cases to be a great alternative to the basic pump case. We carry unique Medical Alert/ID bands and bracelets made to accent our customers' own individual look." ... 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
Level Living
Photo courtesy of Nicole Braidwood
Proprietor/Parent: Nicole Braidwood
Business Description: "Level Living is an on-line retail business specializing in reliable medical ID jewelry and diabetes accessories," says Braidwood. "The product range is reliable and reasonably priced, and consists of badges, dog tags, leather and waterproof ID, and even watches. Level Living does its engraving in-house to cater to personal medical needs." ... Read more
Business Description: "Level Living is an on-line retail business specializing in reliable medical ID jewelry and diabetes accessories," says Braidwood. "The product range is reliable and reasonably priced, and consists of badges, dog tags, leather and waterproof ID, and even watches. Level Living does its engraving in-house to cater to personal medical needs." ... Read more
Pump Wear
Photo courtesy of Pump Wear
Proprietor/Parent: Julie DeFruscio
Business Description: Pump Wear offers stylish and cool ways for kids to transport their insulin pumps, including waist-wrapping Pump Paks and bright patch pockets on shirts. DeFruscio describes the business as "a place where children and adults can go to have fun and be fashionable!" ... Read more
Business Description: Pump Wear offers stylish and cool ways for kids to transport their insulin pumps, including waist-wrapping Pump Paks and bright patch pockets on shirts. DeFruscio describes the business as "a place where children and adults can go to have fun and be fashionable!" ... Read more
QCHARM LLC
Photo courtesy of QCHARM LLC
Proprietor/Parent: Denise L. Meissner
Business Description: "QCHARM, LLC provides a Portable Visual Cueing System to people who have special needs and to those who care for people with special needs," says Meissner. "The system involves presentation of symbols/icons on a charm that attaches to a wristband. Initial examples of icons are used to improve skill development related to: task preparation/performance/transition; schedules; changes in schedule; receptive and expressive communication; sensory modulation; socially appropriate behavior; safety education/reminders; and emotion identification/empathy." ... Read more
Business Description: "QCHARM, LLC provides a Portable Visual Cueing System to people who have special needs and to those who care for people with special needs," says Meissner. "The system involves presentation of symbols/icons on a charm that attaches to a wristband. Initial examples of icons are used to improve skill development related to: task preparation/performance/transition; schedules; changes in schedule; receptive and expressive communication; sensory modulation; socially appropriate behavior; safety education/reminders; and emotion identification/empathy." ... 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
Star Allergy Alerts
Photo courtesy of Star Allergy Alerts
Proprietor/Parent: Donna Rendell
Business Description: Star Allergy Alerts is "an online home-based business selling allergy awareness T-shirts, badges and stickers," says Rendell. Since she works at home, "it's my morning and night-time job -- before Stella wakes, after she goes to Kindy and after she goes to bed!" ... Read more
Business Description: Star Allergy Alerts is "an online home-based business selling allergy awareness T-shirts, badges and stickers," says Rendell. Since she works at home, "it's my morning and night-time job -- before Stella wakes, after she goes to Kindy and after she goes to bed!" ... Read more
