Major retailers are starting to dip their toe into the waters of inclusivity, but for parents of children with a disability finding the products they need to help their children succeed can still take hours of resarch and hunting online. Stores and online retailers like Target and Zappos are now carrying adaptive clothing, but selections are still limited. About 6.6 million children and teens in the United States have a disability.
When Alexandra Connell was a child, she was diagnosed with with anxiety disorder, dyslexia, ADHD and other conditions, leading to her launching Patti + Ricky, an online collective of small businesses that offer unique products for disabilities that could otherwise be difficult to find.
The products includes things I didn't even know existed but would be awesome ways for kids with disabilities to have something made just for them - cranial band decals for kids with helmets, Braille printed jewelry, cochlear cuties to decorate cochlear implants, wheelchair bags to add easily accessible storage, decorative eye patches, and much more!
PATTI + RICKY is a unique marketplace of curated goods for people of all abilities. Founder
Alexandra Connell’s parents both worked in the New York City fashion and accessory industry.
Growing up in a house full of conversations about the next fashion trend or “it” color of the
season led Alexandra to feel like she was born into retail and that it is in her blood. Her own
disAbilities, her close relationship with her cousin Ricky who was unable to walk or verbally
communicate, and her mother’s battle with brain cancer fueled Alexandra’s determination to
launch PATTI + RICKY. Many of the designers whose products are featured on the site also have
disAbilities or a loved one with disAbilities. PATTI + RICKY strives to be the one-stop shop for
people with disAbilities including visible and non-visible disAbilities as well as temporary and
lifelong disAbilities.
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