At a hearing of the US House Committee on Small Business on how small business opportunities can empower people with developmental disabilities, Congresswoman Aumua Amata drew on her own family’s experience.
The hearing highlighted the powerful story of John Cronin of John’s Crazy Socks.
John was born with Down’s Syndrome and is a designer of a growing line of fun, colorful socks, including the pair that President George H.W. Bush recently wore in honor of his wife’s lifework at the funeral of former First Lady Barbara Bush.
John, in business with his father, Mark, has a successful small business that provides jobs for more than 30 people, and even gives a percentage of the profits back to causes like the Special Olympics.
Congresswoman Aumua said, “…my dear sister, Sina Ellen Patricia Coleman, was born with Down’s Syndrome and led a joyful and relatively independent life.
“Sina taught us much about finding happiness in life’s simple things, and giving unconditional love.”
She added, “I’m so thankful our parents didn’t merely listen to suggestions that she be institutionalized but helped her lead her life as fully and independently as possible, and I’m so inspired by this story of the Cronin family’s father-son business venture.”
The congresswoman said “This wonderful example can help empower other families, and influence how our society from Washington, D.C. to American Samoa, thinks about opportunities and bright futures for our loved ones with developmental disabilities.”
Sina recently passed away peacefully in Hawaii at the age of 59, and on May 1st was laid to rest alongside her parents, Governor and Mrs. Peter T. Coleman.
In response to the Congresswoman’s comments and question, Mark Cronin said that John’s entrepreneurial idea to sell socks grew into a business from a start-up investment of a few thousand dollars, and she encouraged anyone with a small business dream, “Go and test it. Go and take that chance,”
