A Few of My Favorite Things

PIcture of a "Hello" nametag with the word entrepreneur

These are a few of my favorite (soon to arrive) things!  I have just ordered oodles of socks from a business started by a young man with Down Syndrome.  John’s Crazy Socks is a father-son venture inspired by John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome, and his love of colorful and fun socks, or what he calls his “crazy socks.”  Who doesn’t love awesome socks?

John's Crazy Socks Logo

John’s Crazy Socks

For others on my list, I have ordered beautiful scarves from a business run by a women with CP.  Shannon Malloy has been crafting with her sister since she was a little girl.  She now sells infinity scarves with her original designs.  

Shannon Mary Sunshine logo

Shannon Mary Sunshine Original Scarf Designs

Another great small business, created by a woman with Down Syndrome, is Gracie’s Doggie Delights.  Gracie turned her love for dogs into a job that she loves, with her rescue dogs acting as ‘quality control engineers.’ Her dog treats are all natural. I am sure my rescue mastiff will appreciate my purchases.  

Gracie's Doggie Delights Logo

Gracie’s Doggie Delights

I am not buying the above items because the proprietors have disabilities.  I am buying them because I LIKE them. The socks are fun and the scarves are beautiful! I, too, love dogs.  It is a wonderful bonus that these purchases support entrepreneurs with disabilities as well.  

 

Let us put to rest the idea that people with disabilities can’t participate in the workforce and contribute to the economy.  We need people with disabilities as part of a diverse and creative workforce.  We can all benefit from the beauty, and new ideas, that these creative individuals bring to the world.  

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Kathryn Helland

Kathryn is a certified speech-language pathologist and works with children and adults with complex communication needs. She has been with the TechOWL team since 2015 and is currently working on her doctorate. She would like to examine how to best support AAC users in higher education.

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