We recently had the joy of joining Valerie Arbeau on her thoughtful and heart-centered podcast, Forever Home for Our Kids with Disabilities. This show is a powerful resource for parents, families, and advocates working to build secure, meaningful futures for children with disabilities, something that is deeply personal to us.
As a father–son team, Mark and John Cronin, co-founders of John's Crazy Socks and Abilities Rising, we've spent the last decade building businesses that not only spread happiness but prove what's possible when we lead with inclusion and love. On this podcast, we had the opportunity to share parts of that journey.
A Family Story, A Bigger Mission
Valerie asked us to talk about John's early days, the assumptions people made when he was born with Down syndrome, and how our family responded not with limitations, but with belief, support, and encouragement. We shared the medical challenges John overcame as a baby, how he learned to sign before he could speak, and how our guiding philosophy, "With us, not for us", has shaped his independence and life choices ever since.
That mindset led directly to the founding of John's Crazy Socks.
When John turned 21 and couldn't find meaningful employment, he didn't get discouraged; he got inspired. "Let's go into business together," he said. And so we did. With a love of colorful socks and a drive to make people smile, John's Crazy Socks was born.
Why This Conversation Matters
The podcast touched on issues we care deeply about:
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Inclusive employment: Over half of our colleagues at John's Crazy Socks have a differing ability. We don't lower standards; everyone earns their job. And our inclusive workforce is not just doing good, it's doing great work.
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Entrepreneurship as a path to purpose: For people with disabilities who are too often excluded from traditional employment, entrepreneurship can open new doors. That's one of the reasons we launched Abilities Rising: to empower more families and self-advocates to build something of their own.
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Dignity and autonomy: Whether it's employment, housing, or community participation, we must support, not control, our loved ones. As John says, "It's my life. I get to make my choices."
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Ending subminimum wage laws: We continue to push for policy change, including the repeal of Section 14(c), which still allows people with disabilities to be paid pennies per hour. We believe that dignity starts with fair pay and real opportunity.
A Shared Vision
Valerie's work aligns with our mission to create a world where people with differing abilities are seen, heard, and given every opportunity to thrive. Her message to parents, "Never underestimate your child's ability", echoes everything we believe. Whether it's finding a forever home or launching a business, the goal is the same: to build a life of purpose, belonging, and possibility.
We're grateful to Valerie for inviting us into her community and giving us space to share our story.
You can listen to the full episode of our conversation on the Forever Home podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/with-us-not-for-us-inclusion-employment-empowerment/id1710657462?i=1000736417699
Want to learn more about our work?
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Visit us at johnandmarkcronin.com
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Shop socks with a mission at johnscrazysocks.com
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Discover our new venture at abilitiesrising.com
Interested in having us speak at your event? Reach out at booking@jmspeak.com
