When you've identified a problem with your special needs child, strategized solutions, and found something that works, what do you do next? For some enterprising parents, the answer is: Go into business. To see how they did it, read these profiles of businesses started by parents to help other families and children like theirs. You'll be inspired by their ingenuity and resourcefulness. Could you follow in their footsteps?
Gak's Snacks
Photo by Catherine Robertson-Souter
Proprietor/Parent: Jill Robbins
Business Description: "Gak's Snacks' mission is to make it easier for children and families with food allergies to enjoy wholesome, delicious baked goods with everyone else," explains Robbins. "We offer organic cookies and apple coffee cake for convenience, cookie dough (soon) for a quick homemade feel, and a cookbook and ingredients for those who bake. We are mostly web-based, but have started to offer our products in stores, restaurants, schools and other institutions as well." ... Read more
Business Description: "Gak's Snacks' mission is to make it easier for children and families with food allergies to enjoy wholesome, delicious baked goods with everyone else," explains Robbins. "We offer organic cookies and apple coffee cake for convenience, cookie dough (soon) for a quick homemade feel, and a cookbook and ingredients for those who bake. We are mostly web-based, but have started to offer our products in stores, restaurants, schools and other institutions as well." ... Read more
Giving Greetings
Image courtesy of Giving Greetings
Proprietor/Parent: Randi Sargent
Business Description: "Giving Greetings is a resource for parents and professionals who support children with communication disorders and autism who use visual and picture symbols to communicate," Sargent explains. "We publish awareness-building cards, gifts, and visual supports used by families, teachers, and therapists." ... Read more
Business Description: "Giving Greetings is a resource for parents and professionals who support children with communication disorders and autism who use visual and picture symbols to communicate," Sargent explains. "We publish awareness-building cards, gifts, and visual supports used by families, teachers, and therapists." ... Read more
HandHold Adaptive
Image courtesy of HandHold Adaptive
Proprietor/Parents: Dan and Carey Tedesco
Business Description: "HandHold Adaptive broadly aims to bridge the digital divide we believe exists between modern handheld technology and the special needs world," the Tedescos explain. "We adapt mass market portable devices, like iPhones, iPods, and Blackberry phones, to serve those with special needs and their caregivers. We have a suite of applications in our development pipeline, starting with iPrompts, which is a picture-based communication tool for the iPhone and iPod Touch." iPrompts allows parents to put customized picture schedules, social stories, timers, and choice prompts on those popular electronic devices. ... Read more
Business Description: "HandHold Adaptive broadly aims to bridge the digital divide we believe exists between modern handheld technology and the special needs world," the Tedescos explain. "We adapt mass market portable devices, like iPhones, iPods, and Blackberry phones, to serve those with special needs and their caregivers. We have a suite of applications in our development pipeline, starting with iPrompts, which is a picture-based communication tool for the iPhone and iPod Touch." iPrompts allows parents to put customized picture schedules, social stories, timers, and choice prompts on those popular electronic devices. ... Read more
Kangaroo Pump Pockets
Photo courtesy of Kangaroo Pump Pockets
Proprietor/Parent: Tricia Wood
Business Description: "We design undergarments for adults and children who wear insulin pumps," Wood explains. "Our goal is to help every diabetic child and adult feel like they can have an active life with normal clothing options while wearing their insulin pump." Products include undershirts with a pocket on the front, cami bras with a pocket along the neckline, and boxer briefs with a pocket on the inside thigh. ... Read more
Business Description: "We design undergarments for adults and children who wear insulin pumps," Wood explains. "Our goal is to help every diabetic child and adult feel like they can have an active life with normal clothing options while wearing their insulin pump." Products include undershirts with a pocket on the front, cami bras with a pocket along the neckline, and boxer briefs with a pocket on the inside thigh. ... 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
Mind Flight
Image courtesy of Dina Clifford
Proprietor/Parent: Dina Clifford
Business Description: "Mind Flight LLC specializes in fun interactive educational products designed to create awareness and help provide a safe environment for children with food allergies," Clifford explains. "Beyond A Peanut allergy flashcards were designed to teach children and those who care for them that staying safe with a nut allergy goes beyond the nut products themselves. My primary goal is to create a safe environment through education. My hope is also that the education will create a better understanding of the challenges around food allergies, and in turn create a more compassionate environment." ... Read more
Business Description: "Mind Flight LLC specializes in fun interactive educational products designed to create awareness and help provide a safe environment for children with food allergies," Clifford explains. "Beyond A Peanut allergy flashcards were designed to teach children and those who care for them that staying safe with a nut allergy goes beyond the nut products themselves. My primary goal is to create a safe environment through education. My hope is also that the education will create a better understanding of the challenges around food allergies, and in turn create a more compassionate environment." ... Read more
Natural Learning Concepts
Photo courtesy of Jene Aviram
Proprietor/Parent: Jene Aviram
Business Description: "We manufacture special education materials which get printed abroad and imported into the United States," says Aviram. "Most of our business takes place in the United States, but we have a number of distributors in Australia, Singapore and Canada. What makes us unique is that we provide our customers with something else. We give them hope, inspiration and a new perspective on what it means to have autism. We have learned so much over the years from personal experience, parents and professionals, and we’re eager to share it." ... Read more
Business Description: "We manufacture special education materials which get printed abroad and imported into the United States," says Aviram. "Most of our business takes place in the United States, but we have a number of distributors in Australia, Singapore and Canada. What makes us unique is that we provide our customers with something else. We give them hope, inspiration and a new perspective on what it means to have autism. We have learned so much over the years from personal experience, parents and professionals, and we’re eager to share it." ... Read more
Organized4Kids.com
Photo courtesy of Organized4Kids.com
Proprietor/Parent: Carla K. Binswanger
Product Description: The first offering from Organized4Kids.com is My IEP ToolKit, a large notebook with specialized tabs that "helps you organize all your child’s most important IEP-related papers," says Binswanger. "It gives you a way to make sense of them, an easy way to carry them, and -- most important -- a fast way to find them when you need them most." ... Read more
Product Description: The first offering from Organized4Kids.com is My IEP ToolKit, a large notebook with specialized tabs that "helps you organize all your child’s most important IEP-related papers," says Binswanger. "It gives you a way to make sense of them, an easy way to carry them, and -- most important -- a fast way to find them when you need them most." ... Read more
OZMO
Photo courtesy of Dee Carrick
Proprietor/Parent: Dee Carrick
Business Description: "OZMO is a website to provide fun stuff for people with autism and also cool stuff for special interests," says Carrick. "We wanted it to be easy to use, truthful, fun, without puzzle patterns, without therapy talk, and also to be appealing to older kids, teens, and adults. We carry books, sensory toys, puzzles, and even gross stuff! (My son's favorite.) The one rule is that it has to be fun." ... Read more
Business Description: "OZMO is a website to provide fun stuff for people with autism and also cool stuff for special interests," says Carrick. "We wanted it to be easy to use, truthful, fun, without puzzle patterns, without therapy talk, and also to be appealing to older kids, teens, and adults. We carry books, sensory toys, puzzles, and even gross stuff! (My son's favorite.) The one rule is that it has to be fun." ... Read more
