Jewelry biz helps her kids and others

The Autism News | English

Kim Authier-Quinn, seen here with her daughter Shauna Quinn, has started a jewelry business to help pay for therapy for two of her children and support autism charities.

By Leigh Blenkhorn | Barrie Advance

Kim Authier-Quinn’s jewelry business not only helps keep her family afloat, but benefits other families with children with autism as well.

The Barrie mom originally started Charming Mommy, which specializes in personalized jewelry, as a way earn money to pay for therapy for her children. Two of her three children – six-year-old Jordan and five-year-old Shauna – have been diagnosed with autism.

“Therapy and treatments are costly, and we needed another source of income,” she said. “I got started with the jewelry a few years ago with the ‘mommy bracelets’. I made them for family and friends. They encouraged me to start charging for the pieces.”

But Authier-Quinn saw the business not only as a moneymaker, but as an opportunity to help other families in similar situations as well.

Ten per cent of all sales by Charming Mommy are donated to autism charities, including Autism Ontario Simcoe County Chapter.

“I wanted to give back to the community in the hopes it would help the families that are going through the same things we are,” she said.

Authier-Quinn said waiting lists and high costs make life difficult for parents of children with autism, but she hopes by donating to the cause, families might get a little relief.

“My situation is not unique, there are a lot of families within the community who are struggling,” she said. “My eldest daughter should be getting about 40 hours a week in therapy, and most of the time we can only afford 20. A lot of families are in the same boat.”

Charming Mommy offers silver and gold name bracelets, awareness bracelets, keychains and necklaces, including personalized silver dog tags.

“The dog tags are a big thing right now, people can have their names and a little cartoon image put on there,” she said. “People are getting them for the whole family.”

For more information, visit www.charmingmommy.com.

Source: http://www.barrieadvance.com/barrieadvance/article/144728

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