Matthew Aguirre worked at a behavioral center for children with special needs, where he helped his students learn life skills. The 27-year-old from Los Angeles noticed his students, who have autism or Down syndrome, could grasp most of the skills he presented them, but time and time again they struggled tying their shoes.
“They were more worried about maintaining the loops than learning the steps,” Aguirre told The Mighty. With a lack of fine motor skills, Aguirre’s students resorted to Velcro and slip-on shoes, distinguishing them from peers with “grown-up shoes.”
In a world where his students already felt different, Aguirre wanted to do something to help them gain confidence and independence. So, Aguirre created Rocket Laces, shoelaces that are stiffer than regular laces, to make shoe tying easier for kids of all abilities.
Learn more here.