Mother Invents Special Eyeglasses Just for People With Down Syndrome

National   |   Conor Beck   |   Feb 29, 2016   |   11:18AM   |   Washington, DC

Noticing a need, a single mother of four from Ohio sacrificed her time to invent a special pair of eyeglasses for kids with Down syndrome.

Maria Dellapina realized that children with Down syndrome often struggle to find a pair of glasses that fit while shopping for her young daughter Erin, who has the condition, she told Cleveland 19 News. Dellapina said the glasses Erin tried kept slipping down her face.

However, when Dellapina called eyeglasses manufacturers to tell them of the need for special glasses, they told her that such a product was not necessary, she said. That’s when she decided to make the product herself, even though life became more difficult when she had to work less to take care of her sick daughter.

Dellapina found a friend to invest $10,000 in her project to create the glasses, according to Cleveland.com. After she found a manufacturer, she found parents to try the product for free in exchange for feedback. Now her product is having great success and is expected to sell more than 6,000 units this year, according to the report.

According to her website, the glasses are “designed to accommodate and fit the features of children and adults with Down syndrome, as well as, other individuals with unique facial features. This innovative eyeglass design includes a bridge which is adjusted to properly fit a low nasal bridge and temples (or ‘arms’ of the glasses) which are modified to keep the glasses from constantly slipping down.”

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On Dellapina’s unlikely success with this invention, she said: “Being a mother is a big driving force. It opened my eyes to a whole new world.”

She told Cleveland 19 News: “Do your research, but when one door closes, another one definitely opens. I found that out myself. Just keep smiling and carrying on. Sooner or later, you are going to be that success.”

Her site is called Specs4Us, meaning Superior Precision Eyewear for Children who are Special, and can be found here.

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