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?
ABA Educational Resources
Photo courtesy of ABA Educational Resources Inc.
Proprietor/Parent: Sharon Gabison
Business Description: The purpose of ABA Educational Resources is "providing educational materials to children and their families living with autism and using a behavioral approach to optimize their child's potential." On the site, you can purchase flash cards, books, videos, audiotraining tools, and laminating supplies; download tools like token economy boards, picture symbols, and data collection forms; and connect with other parents through message boards and listings of organizations. ... Read more
Ability Station
Image courtesy of Matt McGhie
Proprietor/Parent: Matt McGhie
Business Description: "Special Toys for Special Needs is the slogan," says McGhie. "We like to think of it as a safe zone for parents of kids with special needs. Each toy has some value and can help develop some motor skill or satisfy a need. Each toy is also approved by a licensed therapist as bringing value to a child's development. If it isn't productive, we don't carry it." On the site, shoppers can search for toys by brand, category, disability, price, motor area, age, and type. ... Read more
Alacan Publishing
Photo courtesy of Jim Sarris
Proprietor/Parent: Jim Sarris
Business Description: Alacan is "a company that publishes books that help kids with memory issues," says Sarris. Those include Memory Skills Made Easy, a book-and-DVD duo that helps kids with ADHD, autism and learning disabilities improve their recall, and Comic Mnemonics, which uses fun pictures and phrases to teach Spanish verbs. ... Read more
Allergy Apparel
Photo by blue in the stream photography
Proprietor/Parent: Theresa Marie Green
Business Description: "In addition to offering hip clothing and other products for children with food allergies, Allergy Apparel offers moms resources such as links that offer support and advice, an event calendar, other products that may enrich their lives, a blog, and more," Green reports. "My products also give parents of children without allergies an opportunity to ask questions and to better understand food allergies." ... Read more
ALLERGYONBOARD.COM
Photo courtesy of Carey Shoemaker
Proprietor/Parent: Carey Shoemaker
Business Description: The mission of ALLERGYONBOARD.COM is "to promote the empowerment and positive self-esteem of children with food allergies. We offer books and apparel that are informative and effective, and do so in a creative, engaging way. We focus our products on helping children learn the self-management skills they will need to master a variety of challenging situations." ... Read more
AutismEdu
Photo courtesy of AutismEdu
Business Description: The mission of AutismEdu, according to its Web site at AutismEdu.com, is "to create revolutionary educational software for the benefit of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)." The company's first production is "Operation Communication," a CD-ROM that uses an engaging visual presentation to show parents "how to shape and increase a child’s communication using commonplace, everyday situations." AutismEdu also offers consulting services, workshops and seminars. ... Read more
Awearables
Photo courtesy of Awearables
Proprietor/Parent: Iris Shamus
Business Description: Awearables offers "kid friendly allergy awareness accessories" featuring characters called AllerMates -- P. Nutty (peanut allergy), Nutso (tree nut allergy), Detective Fin (fish allergy), Soy Cool (soy allergy), Eggy (egg allergy), Pint (dairy allergy), Professor Wheatley (wheat gluten allergy), and Crabby (shellfish allergy). The characters appear on wristbands and dog tags to help kids make their food allergies known in a fun and upbeat way. ... Read more
Bee Visual
Image courtesy of Bee Visual
Proprietor/Parent: Michele Walker
Business Description: "Our business creates visual supports that are affordable, easy to use, and cover behaviors parents/caregivers need help with the most," explains Walker, who has an M.S. in Applied Educational Psychology. Bee Visual's primary product, the Choiceworks Visual Support System, is made up of a Feelings Board, Schedule Board, Waiting Board, and 40 Visual Magnets to place on them to promote self-control, sequencing, and choice making. The system sells for $79.95 and also includes a storage easel, companion books, and digital timer. ... Read more
Bjort & Company
Photo courtesy of Bjort & Company, Inc.
Business Description: Bjort & Company's primary product right now is a DVD, The Eye Patch Kids, that helps children who need eye patches feel more comfortable about wearing them. "I like to think of my business as something that helps children out," Harmsen says. "So far, it's for kids wearing an eye patch, and in the future it will hopefully be for kids with food allergies and asthma." ... Read more
Check My Tag
Photo courtesy of Check My Tag
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
