High school senior launches in-home nursing care business

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - An Atlanta teenager is growing her efforts at advocating for children with disabilities who need specialized care.

Carrington Manous, a former Miss Georgia Teen, uses her public platform to support kids with dyslexia.

“I was diagnosed with dyslexia and growing up I didn’t really have someone to say ok, you’ve got this,” Manous said.

Manous launched Able Path Care in October, with the help of two other people, to provide in-home care for children considered “medically fragile.”

According to the state of Georgia, “the condition of being medically fragile is generally defined as a medical status that can rapidly deteriorate, resulting in permanent injury or death; one that requires medical care and/or technology to maintain health; and/or a condition that requires extraordinary supervision and observation.”

Annette Smith-Goodwin says she sees the need, first-hand as Clinical Compliance Consultant for Able Path Care.

“Those children that are medically fragile have clinical, complex diagnoses,” Smith-Goodwin says. “That means they have problems with their heart, their lungs, they can have neurological issues and with that, they can be depending on life sustaining equipment.”

With more than 30 years of experience as a registered nurse, Smith-Goodwin shares the same passion as Manous.

“She’s the epitome of forward thinking,” Smith-Goodwin said.

There are about 13,000 children with chronic conditions across Georgia, according to data from GA Focus. More than 75% are low income, and 50% are cared for by a single mother or grandmother.

Manous says this is a passion project she’s committed to. As a high school senior she’s committed to not only learning more about the medical industry but also impacting families in the metro and beyond.

“The more people know about your cause, the more we can make a change in the world,” Manous said. “The more people know, the more people will want to help and support each other.”

Manous continues to inspire those around her, including her cousin Courtney Clark, who is the Nurse Administrator for Able Path Care.

“Just watching her the past few years and knowing her just step out of her comfort zone, in so many arenas, it kind of inspires me,” Clark said.

To find more information about Able Path Care, visit their website here.