An Alabaster mom's invention -- a shopping cart designed for children with special needs -- enlightened officials for a leading retail industry manufacturer and opened their eyes to a new market.

Newton, N.C.-based Technibilt Ltd., part of a global shopping cart manufacturing conglomerate, will produce Caroline's Cart, designed by Drew Ann Long. The company held a national product launch today and is currently marketing the cart to its customers.

"When Drew came to us...we didn't realize the need was that great," David Orfinik, Technibilt's vice president of sales and marketing, said in an interview. "We realized that Caroline's Cart will revolutionize the way that families with a special needs child shop."

The cart levels the playing field for these families when it comes to shopping, he added.

It's difficult for parents of special needs children to maneuver a wheelchair and a shopping cart in the store aisles. Caroline's Cart has space for groceries, as well as a specially-designed seat. See photos of the cart.



Long's inspiration for the cart was her own daughter, Caroline, who has Rett syndrome, a nervous system disorder that means she can't walk, talk or use her hands.

Orfinik couldn't pinpoint the number of carts Technibilt plans to manufacture or the number of orders for them.

"We do have orders coming in from various customers around North America, and there's a lot we need to get to," he said. "We're going to have a full court press with our sales team and marketing team to make sure we reach every single retailer."

He declined to name the customers, as well as Technibilt's regular customers. But he said the company services some of the largest retailers in the country, including grocery and hardware stores.

Technibilit, part of the Wanzl Group of Germany, will use connections it already has with those companies to market Caroline's Cart, he said.

Customers who have already seen the cart also see the need for them.

"Questions that a lot of customers are asking themselves now are where should I put a cart, how many do I need, is it right for every store?" Orfinik said.

According to Easter Seals, one in every five households with children has a child with a special health care need. The Easter Seals' iconic lily logo will be stamped on the carts, a first for the organization.

Long led a grassroots effort to get the attention of a major manufacturer like Technibilt. Early versions of the cart, produced by a small manufacturer in Georgia, are now available at stores in 18 states.

Now, Long plans to start a nonprofit foundation to put Caroline's Cart in small, rural stores that can't afford to buy them. One cart costs about $800, according to Orfinik.

Long said she has been humbled by the journey.

"This was the right thing to do," she said. "Stores have to be accessible. They can no longer ignore this problem, period."