Social enterprise raises $1 million for Dynamic Partners near Covington

Stabilizing Pressure Input Orthosis (SPIO) has raised over $1 million for children with special needs in five years.

January 26, 2012 4:05 pm

Stabilizing Pressure Input Orthosis (SPIO) has raised over $1 million for children with special needs in five years.

All profits made through the sales of SPIO are used to help fund Dynamic Partner’s mission of serving children with special needs and their families.

SPIO was started in the early 1990s by two mothers of children with special needs; one a physical therapist and founding member of Dynamic Partners, the other an accomplished seamstress.

Dynamic Partners purchased the SPIO patents five years ago with an aim to turn the business into one of its first social enterprises.

The SPIO system is a dynamic compression orthosis made of patented, breathable, Lycra-blend material with a multi-directional stretch and high rebound factor. SPIO assists with stability and provides feedback through deep pressure and tactile stimulation.

The unique design helps to improve movement; limb and body position awareness; and general stability and balance.

It has been used to help children with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Hypotonia.

Since 2006, SPIO has designed, manufactured and sold their compression orthoses from their Kent, WA headquarters.

Last year, SPIO orthoses were purchased by families, therapists, therapy centers, and hospitals in over 20 different countries around the world. SPIO offers a wide range of standard sizes designed to fit those from birth to young adult, and in addition, offer custom-made garments to anyone who does not fit a standard size.

SPIO’s parent company, Dynamic Partners, was founded in 1979 by pediatric therapists for facilities that could enhance the development of children born with special needs through early intervention services and parent training.

Dynamic Partners is now a consortium of organizations comprised of Children’s Therapy Center, SKIP Early Intervention Program, Dynamic Orthotic Systems, Dymamic Labs (winner of the 2011 Zino Society Award for Social Innovation), and SPIO.

SPIO online at Facebook.com/SpioWorks, Twitter @SPIO_Works, and Youtube.com/spioworks.