Parents of children with special needs face many obstacles when out and about with their families. Something as simple as a trip to the store can turn into a logistical nightmare when a parent is tasked with maneuvering both a cart and wheelchair at the same time.
Soon, parents of children with special needs won’t have to worry about this while shopping at Target — thanks to an amazing invention called Caroline’s Cart.
These carts feature a large seat in the front, where kids or adults with special needs can sit down without having to worry about a cart and a wheelchair at the same time. They were created by Drew Ann Long, a stay-at-home-mother from Alabama who has a daughter with special needs named Caroline. Long developed the cart after realizing Caroline — who was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome — wouldn’t be able to used standard shopping carts for long.
Starting on March 19, all Target locations that offer full-size carts will have at least one Caroline’s Cart. Depending on consumer needs at each location, more of these carts will be added to accommodate demand.
“Caroline’s Cart can be a game-changer for families, and we’re excited to offer this for our guests across the country,” said Juan Galarraga, senior vice president, Store Operations, in a corporate statement. “Target is always looking for new ways to make guests feel welcome in our stores and give them a more comfortable shopping experience. We’re always listening to both our guests and team members and making changes based their feedback.”
If these carts already seem familiar to some parents, it’s because Target has actually been testing them out in certain stores since February 2015. Many parents have already provided positive feedback about Caroline’s Carts, including one particularly appreciative dad:
“We have a 6-year-old handicap(ped) girl who either doesn’t fit in carts anymore or gets weird looks to as why she’s sitting in the basket and can’t walk like a normal child,” Adam Standiford wrote on Target’s Facebook page. “This simple cart literally will change how we can shop, not having to worry as to how we are going to get her into a store.”
Share your thoughts! What do you think about Caroline’s Carts? Would having these carts at all major retailers help you as a parent, or someone else you might know?
