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UMass Dartmouth student, born with cerebral palsy, makes lanyards for COVID facemasks

The Standard Times - 2/18/2021

Feb. 18—DARTMOUTH — Paige Elizabeth Santos loved going to fairs to sell her paracord survival bracelets, and other items, but the COVID-19 pandemic put an end to that.

Now, she's making lanyards to hold facial masks and selling them online.

She received 50 orders during her first week in business.

Santos, 23, was born with cerebral palsy and had very limited use of her left hand.

"She was 3 1/2 weeks early when she was born and her left side had issues," said her mother, Marianne Santos. Her daughter then underwent numerous rounds of physical and occupational therapy.

It was at a crafts store that her parents picked up a survival bracelet making kit.

"She loved it," Marianne Santos said.

Before long Paige Santos was making survival bracelets, key chains, and dog leashes and selling them in local gift shops and at craft fairs.

"No more fairs," Paige Santos said.

When the coronavirus pandemic shut down her ability to sell in person, Paige Santos said she was urged to sell her items online. She started making lanyards for coronavirus facial masks. The lanyards clip to each side of a mask — much like a chain that keeps eyeglasses hanging around the neck. It makes it easier to take the mask off without having to put it down.

Marianne Santos said her daughter had an online shop on Etsy some time ago and has revived the shop.

Paiges Paracord has different items made from paracord — a strong general purpose utility cord, most notably used in parachute cords. Being home during the pandemic, she said, it's allowed her to promote her shop on social media.

Besides the facemask lanyards, other items made from the paracord include keychains, dog collars and leashes, figits for anxiety relief, and flat rope mats.

"I hope to get 100 sales by March 1," Paige Santos said. "I'll be going to UMass Dartmouth and I want to get a new computer," she added.

She's been attending online classes at Bristol Community College and once she moves to UMass Dartmouth, her Mac computer won't be usable, and she'll need a PC.

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