From 2022 to 2023, 7.5 million children in the U.S. required special education or other specialized services. This represents approximately 15% of all school-aged children, which is a daunting number to contend with. The parents of these children face more difficulties than anyone could imagine. School is a separate entity compared to home care: feeding, potty training, socializing, and sleeping are only a few monumental tasks for those with disabled children.
Brady Crandall is one such parent whose daughter, Gilli, was born with Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE. His personal experience led him to create Youth Crews with co-founder and former boss, Perry Quinn. Both recognized a significant need for parents of disabled children — youth diapers that filled the gap between toddler and adult years.
The Missing Piece For Children With Disability Needs
Youth Crews was “born from real need, built with real purpose.” The purpose is to give disabled children the care they need and deserve. Incontinence is one of the most significant challenges parents face. Many disabilities, such as brain injuries like HIE and cerebral palsy, cause immobility. Making it to or learning to use the bathroom is not an option for many children. In this case, diapers are necessary but are not always made to fit anyone over a certain age.
Brady Crandall, co-founder of Youth Crews, holding up a youth diaper.
©Youth Crews – Original
“Our daughter was born with a severe brain injury called HIE, and so she has a few disabilities. I think the most visual or the most obvious externally is cerebral palsy. And as she grew and got bigger, we started to realize that…there are no options for kids after they outgrow the baby diapers, until they're big enough for the adult diapers,” Crandall says in an interview with ABC 7.
He explains how they surveyed families within their community, and found that an overwhelming 99% revealed this was a significant gap in disability needs.
How Youth Crews Change Lives For Parents (and Their Children)
According to Crandall, Youth Crews diapers help children with epilepsy, seizures, and other disabilities. He also says many of these children need feeding tubes or other specialized care, making youth-aged diapers a necessity.
Parents struggled with the choice between poorly-performing baby diapers and poorly-fitting adult diapers. This makes the struggle for good hygiene even harder, on top of the other challenges that come with raising a child with a disability that may already be debilitating. Youth Crews set out to not only address this problem, but to ensure kids with disabilities like these can lead better lives.
“We're creating youth diapers that actually work — the right size, the right fit, the right look. Because our disabled kids deserve products made just for them.
Brady Crandall, Co-Founder of Youth Crews
This isn't just about diapers. It's about building a community where every family feels understood, supported, and proud of who they are.
Youth Crews is more than a diaper brand; it's a movement dedicated to offering practical support, comfort, and a sense of community for families like ours.”
Together with Quinn, a friend and mentor, the team took on the challenge of designing diapers for kids ages 4 to 17. Crandall tells ABC 7 that the goal was to bring fit, comfort, and dignity to disabled children and their families. Once they decided not having youth-aged diapers was unacceptable, they committed to creating a product that filled a need.
Why Youth Crews' Diapers Are So Important
“The diaper industry is really segmented into adult diapers and baby diapers, all the way down to the machines that they're made on. And so, it's really challenging to build a diaper in these sort of in between sizes,” Crandall tells ABC 7.
Most diapers fit children up to age 3, and after that, there are no extended sizes. Adult diapers are suited for mature bodies and don't offer the same comfort, fit, or retention that Youth Crews aims for. Therefore, the first problem to solve was the sizing.
A package of Youth Crews diapers.
©Youth Crews – Original
To make this easier, Youth Crews implements a complete sizing guide on its website. From helpful videos to sizing based on wheelchair needs vs. walking needs, parents can make the best possible choice for their children.
Youth Crews even has a guide on what to look for in youth diapers, including a checklist on when to size up or down. Between their exact measurement guide and FAQ section, finding the right diapers for any child is easy. The best part? Parents know these diapers were created with their children in mind.
“Together, we're building a world where disabled kids, their medical parents, and caregivers don't just feel seen — they lead the way.”
Youth Crews
What Makes Up Youth Crews Diapers
Every detail, down to the weave of Youth Crews diapers, has been carefully thought out and tested. For the utmost comfort, the diapers themselves are made of super-thin absorbent polymer layers. This is intended to keep leaks inside the diaper with no spillover.
A blend of polyethylene, polyester, and sodium polyacrylate keeps everything flexible while also wicking away moisture. A backsheet makes the diapers breathable, while an added pH-reactive pigment (wetness indicator) helps parents know when it's time for a change.
Elastic and silicone are added to the blend to make each diaper snug, yet comfortable. The fastening system makes the diapers easy to put on and take off with little mess. The whole thing is held together with a hotmelt adhesive, making the diapers just as durable as they are comfortable.
Real Stories From Youth Crews Customers
Youth Crews come in sizes 9, 10, and 11, fitting a wide range of children between 4 and 17 years old. They hold a solid 4.5 stars on the website, with plenty of testimonials from real families who have children with disabilities.
One family says, “I can not emphasize enough how amazing this company is! I’ve searched for years for a diaper that actually fits my almost 11-year-old grandson, and Youth Crews is checking all the boxes. These diapers are SOOOO SOFT! It’s hard enough for him to be trapped inside a body that doesn’t cooperate, so knowing that he doesn’t have to be trapped inside an ill-fitting and uncomfortable diaper makes my heart so happy. And even though he’s non-verbal, we could immediately tell by his body language that he was more comfortable in Youth Crews.”
©iStock.com/Yana Tikhonova
Another family writes, “I have a special needs child, and finding the right diaper has always been such a struggle. Everything I came across felt too medical-grade or uncomfortable. I thought I wasn’t going to have a choice until I found Youth Crews. These are perfect! It’s exactly what we needed. I’m so thankful we found them.”
Other reviews echo this praise, with gratitude over not having to worry about outings, school, or playdates. Many people go unaware of the challenges children with disabilities face. Youth Crews has changed both the stigma and the community for the better. Families worry less knowing their children have options designed specifically for them, created by someone who knows their struggles.
“I think the biggest thing my daughter has taught my wife and me, is learning to be content with what you have and what you're given. I feel like the meaning of life is learning to accept and be comfortable with where you're at. I'm definitely still learning how to do that, but I think our daughter has that figured out completely.
Brady Crandall, Co-Founder of Youth Crews
Some people have blonde hair, some people have dark hair. Some people are left-handed, some people are right-handed. Some people are disabled, and some people aren't disabled. It's not a good or bad thing.
It's just part of what makes the world a more diverse place.”
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Youth Crews / Original