1. Purely Patrick "Don't DIS my ABILITY Products with passion Profits with purpose"
Hi! My name is Patrick Lewis.
I love to listen to music, spend time outside, sing, swim, and participate in adaptive skiing and paddle boarding. I love spending time with my family. I have so much fun making these products and I hope you will enjoy them too!
My products are made by the use of assistive technology. I use a pouring device that is activated by a switch that I control. I have the help of my mother and 2 job coaches to ensure the measurements of my products are correct.
I participate in local craft fairs and farmer's markets. My "Made in Vermont" products are done so with care and determination to ensure that they are the absolute best experience for my customers.
2.Austins Underdawgs " The Perfect Choice"
Understanding the needs of people with limited abilities, Austin knows how important it is to help his fellow man. For this reason, Austin’s Underdawgs has developed a Fundraising source event in addition to operating his for profit business.
Austin’s favorite charity is The Each & Everyone Foundation” which is dedicated to improving the lives of people with limited abilities through vocational training and working in society to the maximum extent possible.
So who is ZABS? ZABS is the acronym of the Hebrew name of a young man named Zachary. A happy, athletic, positive, take-over-the-world (in a good way) teen. He was awesome to be around. His friends and family loved him. His teachers raved about him. He was passionate about helping others, especially children and teens with special needs. That’s how he got involved in Friendship Circle. When Zachary was 18, he was diagnosed with a horrific form of Leukemia. He fought a ferocious battle and bravely faced the challenges and suffering no 18 year old should know. Ever! Zachary went into a remission for a short while but unfortunately the dreaded disease came back, and Zachary was taken from us at the young age of 19. ZABS Place reminds us of Zecharya Avraham Boruch Shporer and the incredible example he lived and taught.
The mother-and-son team of Theresa and Sean DeMarco conceived the idea for a gift shop after realizing they needed to find a new way to promote Sean’s business, Decades Collectibles, once the pandemic shut down many of the typical venues where his items could be sold.
Sean, a young man on the Autism Spectrum, wanted to make sure other young adults like him had the same opportunity. “We need to stick together”, Sean said. And, One For All was created!
As residents of the North Fork of Long Island, Sean and Theresa wanted a brick and mortar location close to home. They were blessed to find the perfect spot in the picturesque town of Southold. The shop opened its doors on October 31, 2020.
The motto of “A shared space with a shared purpose” highlights the collective mission to promote positivity, inclusion and the pursuit of dignified employment for all people!
Texas Sweet Heat Jam Company provides a nurturing environment for young adults with intellectual disabilities; where artisan jams are created, skills are taught and the God-given abilities of each person are valued.
Sophia is a young lady with a passion for art, dancing, music, family, friends, and fun. She also happens to have Down syndrome.
As a baby her health was precarious; her fighting spirit showed through as she overcame those early struggles. Before Sophia was born she was diagnosed with very severe heart defects. Any one of them could have been fatal. She was born literally with half a heart. Luck and divine providence brought us to Dr. Mary Donofrio, our longtime and beloved cardiologist. Under her care and guidance, Sophia had two open-heart surgeries before she was two years old. Despite several subsequent surgeries, other hospitalizations, and medical challenges, she's an active and strong young teen.
7.H-Bomb Ties: Adding a burst of awesome to your outfit
H-Bomb Ties is a clothing brand inspired by Harrison (aka H-Bomb) that specializes in fun bow ties and neck ties for children and adults. Harrison, who has Down Syndrome and Autism, is a fun loving, energetic, personable, hardworking, fashion forward boy from Ohio. Harrison has always had an affinity for bow ties, and he wears them often for all sorts of occasions. So much so, the male staff at his school started ‘Bow Tie Friday’ where they would all wear bow ties on Fridays in honor of Harrison.
Collette Divitto was born in 1990 with Down syndrome. She grew up in Ridgefield, Connecticut, where she developed a passion for baking after taking classes in high school. After testing out several cookie recipes, she came up with an original cinnamon chocolate chip cookie that people really enjoyed. Because all of her friends and family raved, “This cookie is amazing,” Collette decided to call her recipe “The Amazing Cookie.” After high school, Collette attended Clemson University, and finished a three-year LIFE program in just two years. With characteristic sass and a strong drive to work hard and succeed, she moved to Boston, where she was sure she would find a paying job. Although she went on many job interviews that seemed to go very well, she always got an email saying something like, “it was great to meet you, Collette, but at this time we feel you are not a good fit for our company.”
