At John’s Crazy Socks, we love shining a light on organizations that share our mission of inclusion and opportunity. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we celebrate the people and companies that prove every day that hiring people with differing abilities isn’t charity — it’s smart business that changes lives.
One of those companies is Spectrum Designs, a New York-based nonprofit apparel company that truly embodies what inclusion can look like when it’s woven into every part of a business.
Building a Business with Purpose
Spectrum Designs can print or embroider logo or image on just about anything: t-shirts, mugs, pens, buttons, you name it. They produce beautiful products. But what makes them special isn’t just what they make. It’s how they make it.
More than 60 percent of their team members are on the autism spectrum, and every sale directly supports their mission to create meaningful employment for people with differing abilities. They don’t just craft beautiful products, they build confidence, independence, and community.
A Leader Who Believes in People
We’ve admired Spectrum Designs for years. Their co-founder and CEO, Patrick Bardsley, is not only a friend but a fellow believer in purpose-driven business. We’ve had the joy of working with Patrick through the Neurodiversity at Work Business Roundtable and the CEO Commission for Disability Employment. His leadership shows what’s possible when you build a company that values people first.
Inclusion in Action
Spectrum Designs operates out of Port Washington and Pleasantville, New York, serving customers that include Google, Northwell Health, and 1-800-Flowers. Their operation rivals any large apparel company, but what makes it shine is the mission at its heart.
When people ask us, “What does inclusion look like in practice?” we point to Spectrum Designs. Their success is living proof of what we say in every conversation: hiring people with differing abilities isn’t altruism, it’s good business.
More Than a Workplace, a Movement
Spectrum’s partnership with The Nicholas Center ensures that employees receive training, coaching, and ongoing support so they can thrive both at work and beyond. Their facilities are eco-friendly, their designs are top-notch, and their culture radiates collaboration and respect.
When inclusion is built into the fabric of a business, everyone rises — the employees, the company, and the community.
Why This Matters
NDEAM is a time to celebrate the contributions of workers with differing abilities, but for us, it’s also a call to action. Every day at John’s Crazy Socks, we see the power of inclusion in our own workplace — more than half of our colleagues have differing abilities. We know the joy, the pride, and the excellence that come from giving everyone the chance to contribute.
That’s why we cheer for organizations like Spectrum Designs. They’re not just creating jobs, they are making change happen.
Join Us in Spreading Happiness
When you support companies like Spectrum Designs and John’s Crazy Socks, you help create jobs, empower people, and show the world what’s possible when business is built with heart.
Visit www.spectrumdesigns.org to explore their products and mission. And when you shop at John’s Crazy Socks, you become part of this same movement, one that’s spreading happiness, one job and one pair of socks at a time.
