These parents didn’t just think up stuff that would make life better for their kids with special needs—they made them happen. Props to them for inventions that enable all our children.
Dolls for kids with special needs
At 9-years-old, Hannah Feda was flipping through a toy catalog and noticed there were no dolls that looked like her. Hannah has Down syndrome; her mom, Connie, set out to find dolls that resembled her daughter, but didn’t find any she thought were good. So she set out to create her own with help from a sculptor, occupational therapists, and other parents. The result: Dolls for Downs, whose mission is to “represent children with disabilities in an honest, favorable light and give kids with disabilities a friend for life.” The company’s first deliveries will be arriving soon.
A cool way to get around
When DeeAnn and Jason’s son, Zachary, was a tot, they needed something to help him move around the house; Zach has spina bifida, and cannot move his legs. With the help of an engineering friend they came up with the ZipZac chair. Suddenly, Zachary had the ability to move around the house, pick up toys, and play with them by himself and generally be more independent. The chair is now available in two sizes, one for kids up to 3-years-old, and one for kids ages 2.5 to 5.
A safer sleep for kids with autism
Rose Morris had a son with autism who tended to wander in the night, leaving her concerned about his safety (and her sleep deprivation). While staying at a friend’s house, he ended up in a Pack ‘N Play with an afghan on top, secured by bungee cords. And that gave her the idea for developing The Safety Sleeper, a bedframe that turns any mattress into an enclosed canopy bed—enabling both kids and their parents to rest easy.
Educational apps for kids with special needs
British mom Bev Dean, founder of Special iApps, had some very cute inspiration: Her son William, born in 2005 with Down syndrome and other special needs. A former IT specialist, her drive to create engaging, educational apps for William lead her to become an Apple app developer. The apps she’s created include Special Words, Special Numbers, and Special Stories (all available on iTunes, for iPhone, iPad, and Android), with more coming soon.
Drool-proof clothing for kids with special needs
Kids with cerebral palsy often have uncontrollable drooling, and it’s hard to find ways to avoid sopping-wet shirts. Richard Kligman decided to create a line of high-quality, quick-dry, antibacterial, and good-looking clothing for his son, Moishe, an 11-year-old with CP, so “he would not have to wear a bib all day.” He hired a designer and raised $25,000 in funding on Kickstarter. Called Mianzi (which means “bamboo” in Swahili, the material the clothing is made from), the first batch of shirts—with long and short sleeves—are on pre-order.
An easy way to control devices
Phil Weaver began building contraptions for his son Jackson, then 3, a few years ago. Jackson his cerebral palsy and Weaver wanted his son to be better able to play with toys. So he came up with the Switchamajig, which enabled Jackson to easily control movements of switch-adapted toys. Now available, the device allows users to control up to six switch ports on switch-adapted toys and appliances. A new unit, the Switchamajig IR, works with non-adapted devices.
Know of other great inventions by parents of kids with special needs? Please do share!
From my other blog:
18 things special needs moms shouldn’t feel guilty about
Totally awkward special needs parent moments
8 ways pretend play can help kids with special needs
All images are from their respective sites