Mom Finds Glasses That Fit For Children With Down Syndrome
This is the story of two determined moms, one from from Williamsville, the other from Cleveland, who wanted
what was best for their daughters who have Down Syndrome.
Let's start in Williamsville, where a few months ago, pretty little five year old Bethany Hagan, who has Down
Syndrome, began wearing glasses.
There was one big problem. Because of the facial features common to Down's children, Bethany's glasses
didn't fit, and they were constantly sliding down her nose.
"She was just seeing the top of the rim most of the time, and they were uncomfortable for her," said
Bethany's mom Marcy. "So she was taking them off and hiding them under the bed and in the hamper."
So Marcy went on line and she found a site where you can buy specially-made glasses for children with
Down's.
They were invented by an optician in Cleveland, Maria Dellapina.
"I thought why can't we have a frame where we lower the bridge, (shorten) the temple position, and widen it
out," said Dellapina.
You see, Maria also has a daughter with Down Syndrome, Erin, and you know the old saying about
necessity being the mother of invention.
And so Marcy, our mom from Williamsville, picked up the phone and called Maria in Cleveland, and voila!
"She sent me some frames and we tried them on Bethany, had them made up, and they were phenomenal,"
said Marcy.
They were a perfect fit.
Marcy called Maria in Cleveland to thank her.
"I told her how much it meant to me to have Bethany wear the glasses- they don't fall down, they don't fall
off, she sees through them, she sees better," said Marcy.
"I get choked up and teary-eyed anytime I hear, I get e-mails from parents, I get letters, and I've had kids
draw me cards, thank you cards," said Maria.
Then Marcy contacted 2 On Your Side.
Scott Brown: "Why did you get in touch with us about these frames?"
Marcy: "You don't find a lot of things often that are specifically geared toward children with special needs. So
when you finally find something, it means a lot, and you want all the parents who are in the same position
you are to have access to it."
Marcy has also been contacting local opticians to try and get them to carry the special frames.
Dave Licata of Licata Optical in Williamsville said he would.
"It's a great concept, so I figured I'd bring them in my office and hopefully parents with special needs children
will come on in and we'd love to take care of them," said Licata.
And as far as Bethany, she says she loves her new glasses.
"Now she keeps them on all the time, and the only time she takes them off is when she tells me to please
clean them," Marcy said with a laugh. Opticians carrying the frames:
Licata Optical, Williamsville 631-3860
4 Kids Optical, Amherst 362-0651
Brighton Optical, Tonawanda 832-0296
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