Extraordinary Ventures is a non-profit based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, whose mission is to create and nurture self-sustaining small businesses by providing employment opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In their online shop, Extraordinary Gifts, their handmade candles and soaps come in a variety of enticing scents and are made with natural ingredients.
Through an adapted candle manufacturing process, ScentsAbility Candles provides meaningful training and employment opportunities for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Check out their Artisan page to meet the makers of these enticingly aromatic candles.
Collettey’s Cookies is the brainchild of Collette Divitto, an entrepreneur and baker with Down syndrome. Her company employs people with disabilities, and Colette was recently featured for her work on the docuseries Born For Business on Peacock. Her online shop offers cookies for humans (and dogs!) as well as other merchandise like books and apparel.
Send a Sweet Subscription Surprise to a loved one for $30/month, and they will receive a scrumptious collection of cookies every month.
Bitty & Beau’s was founded by siblings with Down syndrome to create a space where people with disabilities are accepted in their local community through jobs and activism. Since 2016, Bitty, Beau, and their parents have expanded the franchise to 23 locations and 400 employees. Along with their delicious coffees, they sell coffee-related goodies, dog accessories, and “radically inclusive” clothing.
ExtraSpecialTeas is the creation of Cherri and Scott Sanes, who are motivated by a passion for tea and a desire to create a business that offers meaningful impact. Cherri, who has a background in special education, wanted to combine her love for tea with her commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities. Through her vision, ExtraSpecialTeas was born as a social enterprise that not only serves high-quality, handcrafted tea but also provides employment opportunities and day classes to adults with disabilities in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
Gabi is an entrepreneur with Down syndrome based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Gabi's Grounds “promotes equal access to people with disabilities” in their workplace that sells bags, K-cups, teas, tea strainers, mugs, and much more. She has created her own special blend of organic Guatemalan and Sumatran coffee. When you make a purchase, your order will include a handwritten thank-you note from Gabi!
Joe Steffy, a young man with autism and Down syndrome, found his passion for popcorn and turned it into a thriving business. Joe’s love for making popcorn quickly grew into a way to bring joy to others while building his skills and independence. Poppin’ Joe’s not only offers delicious, hand-popped popcorn in a variety of flavors, but Joe’s vision for his company is to provide meaningful work opportunities for others, helping them gain confidence and real-world experience. Every bag of popcorn sold contributes to the business’ mission of empowerment and entrepreneurship. Online orders can be made through this Etsy page.
Shemesh Farms in Malibu, California, was created to provide meaningful employment and community to individuals with diverse abilities. Their farm fellows, volunteers, and staff harvest and create spice blends, honey, and other organic products for individual orders or larger group purchases. Purchasing one of their products contributes to the continuation of their programming and the wages of their farm fellows.
In I Identify as Blind, recording artist and activist Lachi reframes disability as a powerful cultural movement, an empowering identity, and a blueprint for innovation. Using storytelling, pop-culture analysis, and historical insights, Lachi celebrates disability culture and challenges mainstream views with humor, heart, and high fashion, revealing how the adaptability of visionaries, like the U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth and Coldplay's Chris Martin, has driven progress. The book is an invitation to celebrate disability not as a deficit but as a wellspring of collective strength, power, and pride.
Almost ten years after learning that her son is autistic, Julie M. Green was also diagnosed with autism, shedding light on a lifetime of feeling othered and misunderstood. Her memoir, Motherness, traces Julie’s journey from childhood to early motherhood as she advocates for her son while navigating her own struggles. She writes The Autistic Mom on Substack.
Katie Rose Guest Pryal, a neurodivergent author, speaker, and writing coach, shares her experiences raising her neurodivergent children in this compassionate and comprehensive guide. Through personal stories, research, and practical strategies, she weaves a powerful narrative of advocacy, empathy, and resilience.
Devon Price, PhD, follows up his popular book Unmasking Autism with Unmasking for Life, a helpful guide for autistic people seeking to live openly and authentically in a neurotypical world. The book offers practical skills to navigate social structures, build fulfilling relationships, and advocate for one's needs against ableism and inaccessibility. Dr. Price outlines five key skills for living unmasked: accepting change and uncertainty, engaging in productive conflict, transgressing unfair social expectations, tolerating distress or being disliked, and creating new accommodations and ways of living.
Established in 2001, Art Enables is an art gallery and vocational arts program in Washington, DC, that provides opportunities for artists with disabilities to create, promote, and earn income from their unique and impactful artwork. The program helps artists develop essential skills, build relationships, and gain experience for a successful career in the arts. The organization works with artists facing a wide range of developmental and cognitive disabilities. Their online shop offers prints and original works from their artisans in an array of styles and mediums.
Founded in San Francisco in 1983 by artist Florence Katz and psychologist Elias Katz, Creativity Explored is an organization built on the belief that art is essential to life, providing access to creative expression for individuals with developmental disabilities. Creativity Explored continues to honor the Katzs’ legacy in the Bay Area by collaborating with Creative Growth and NIAD, co-curating exhibitions, and sharing resources, with their collective programs serving as a model for the field of art and disability worldwide.
Deaf West Theatre was founded to act as an “artistic bridge between Deaf and hearing worlds” by bringing ASL and spoken English together in experiences inspired by Deaf culture. In partnership with artists Christine Sun Kim and Ravi Vasavan from Deaf Power, these limited-edition enamel pins contribute to their campaign focused on increasing training and employment opportunities for the Deaf community.
Momentum Creative “supports a vigorous community of working artists with a variety of developmental disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome, whose perspective is vital within the contemporary art world.” Their online gallery showcases the work of a vibrant group of artists who use varying mediums. Buying from their collection helps fund their ongoing work.
Nurturing Independence through Artistic Development (NIAD) fosters creative expression, independence, and community integration for individuals with disabilities through its visual arts studio program located in Richmond, CA. NIAD encourages experimentation, self-expression, and collaboration, while prioritizing sustainability, communication and joy in their artists, like these Ceramic Baguette Pins. When you own a piece of NIAD art, you connect with the unique story of an artist with disabilities, amplify an original voice in contemporary art, and empower an artist to earn income from their work.
Finley’s makes delicious pet treats while supporting various organizations that focus on empowering individuals with disabilities, particularly those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They partner with Special Olympics and Best Buddies (to name a few) for initiatives that provide training, resources, and opportunities for individuals with disabilities to gain meaningful employment and build independent lives. You can get treats from their website as well as Target, Chewy, and Petco.
Gracie’s Doggie Delights is run by Gracie, an entrepreneur from Watertown, Wisconsin, with Down syndrome. The business was inspired by her love of dogs, and giving pets treats is one of her favorite things to do. Doggie Delights are only made with freeze-dried, USDA-inspected meat to maintain flavor and nutrition. The treats have a shelf life of six to eight months. Choose from varieties like Beef Liver, Chicken Breast, and Flavor Booster Pet Food Toppers.
PawsAbilities is an employment program of Inclusion Connections, a nonprofit in Kansas City that provides meaningful jobs and independence for people with intellectual disabilities. Along with an incredible selection of all-natural dog treats, the PawsAbilities store sells adorable pet wear, housewares, apparel, and handmade toys.
AbleGamers is an organization that helps gamers with disabilities create community through gaming by creating innovative solutions or finding the technology they need, all tailored to the gamer. AbleGamers was founded by Mark, a service-disabled veteran, when his friend Stephanie began to encounter barriers to gaming due to the progression of her multiple sclerosis. Seeing firsthand how disability can cause social isolation and exclusion, Mark and Stephanie set out to create “opportunities that enable play in order to combat social isolation, inclusive communities, and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.” In addition to developing customized solutions and connecting gamers with technology that meets their needs, AbleGamers offers peer counseling and works with gaming industry professionals and developers to make games accessible. Check out their website and Instagram.
BILLY Footwear, a company created by Seattle locals Darin Donaldson and Billy Price, designs shoes that embody universal design, making them appealing and functional for everyone. The concept of universal design is brought to fashion by the company's incorporation of zippers that allow the upper of each shoe to open completely. This feature, which allows the wearer to easily place their foot onto the footbed and then secure the shoe with a simple zip, was inspired by co-founder Billy Price's personal struggle with putting on shoes after he became paralyzed from the chest down in 1996. What started as a solution for Billy's footwear needs evolved into a broader mission to create mainstream, functional, fashionable, and inclusive footwear for all.
The products at Blissful Seeds of San Diego, California, are handcrafted by adults with autism and other developmental disabilities using natural and organic ingredients. Blissful Seeds helps nurture entrepreneurial spirits and offer tools, resources, and support to help individuals with disabilities realize their business dreams. Each item is designed to showcase the unique talents and strengths of the artisan.
Mara Ladines is a Deaf and Asian clothing designer based in New York City, where she owns a small clothing store in Brooklyn called By Mara. Her designs often feature the iconic "I Love You" symbol in American Sign Language, with products ranging from baby onesies to plush blankets. Launched in 2008 with only two products, By Mara has since expanded into a nationwide brand, now offering over 100 items that are available online, in stores, and at various festivals.
John Lee Cronin, who has Down syndrome, is the inspiration half of the father-son duo who founded John’s Crazy Socks. They sell a wide variety of funky men’s, women’s, and children’s socks—including, of course, crazy holiday socks. Each order is sent with candy and a handwritten thank-you note from John. The company donates 10% of all awareness socks to various applicable charities, and 5% of the proceeds are donated to the Special Olympics.
Little Red Hen is a nonprofit organization that provides employment for individuals with developmental disabilities in Chico, California. 100% of the sales and donations made directly support programming for children and adults with developmental disabilities and help pay their employees’ wages. Check out Little Red Hen’s variety of household items and vintage shop.
Two Blind Brothers is the work of brothers Bryan and Bradford Manning from New York City. They are both legally blind and donate 100% of their profits to charitable foundations like the Foundation Fighting Blindness. They also work closely with other organizations supporting the blind community, including Industries of the Blind, which helps to make some of their products. Along with their adorable line of plush guide dogs, they offer soft and comfortable clothing and accessories that can be found in their online store.
Mychal's Learning Place is a nonprofit organization in Hawthorne, California, dedicated to providing youth and young adults with developmental disabilities the opportunity to develop life skills and achieve independence. Michal’s Learning Place offers a range of educational and vocational programs with personalized training and support. One program is Mychal’s Printing & Embroidery, a digital print company that produces custom stamped items like T-shirts, tote bags, and mugs for companies, groups, and events while employing young people with developmental disabilities.
Board & Measure is a Deaf and CODA-owned shop based in Michigan featuring handmade wooden products with ASL themes, including “ASL Hands” in the letters of your choice to adorn your wall. See the rest of their store here, which includes ornaments, keychains, decor, and much more.
From Frustrated to Feeling Good: Jasmine’s Way is a picture book by Joyful Jasmine & Co.’s Karen Murata that helps children — especially autistic, highly sensitive, and neurodivergent kids — to recognize, understand, and manage big emotions. Inspired by real-life experiences of a neurodiverse family, this book offers a gentle journey from frustration to feeling good again using calming colors, simple neuro-affirming language, and heart-centered guidance. It's a great resource for home, school, or therapy spaces. Karen states, “When I first began this journey, I had never written a book, used illustration programs, or self-published anything before. What I had done was create small, homemade booklets for Jasmine using photos of her to help us communicate about feelings, what comforted her, and what helped her feel good. During an evaluation visit, an Adaptive Skills Evaluator looked through one of those little booklets and said, ‘This could actually be a book.’ That simple comment planted the seed for what would eventually become From Frustrated to Feeling Good: Jasmine’s Way.”
Little For Now, an online retailer that donates yearly to Down syndrome and autism charities, is owned by a parent of three kids with disabilities. Not only does Little For Now offer a wide range of eco-friendly products to get parents started in cloth diapering, but they also offer guides on how to do it. The company also features special needs products, including The Happy Mat for safe feeding and the Beco Toddler Carrier for carrying kids up to 60 pounds.
Réka, an autistic artist, designs cute characters on a variety of products with themes of acceptance, encouragement, self-love and understanding, affirmations, and mindfulness. Réka shares that her pieces are like “little self-care tools” inspired by her personal experience with the hope that her art will help “neurodivergent people, their loved ones, and therapists.” She sells calendars, communication cards, zines, coloring books, prints, tumbler wraps, mindfulness cards, journals, mood trackers, stickers, and more.
Seanese is a company created and run by Sean, who has Down syndrome and a creative flair for witty sayings that he designs for his products, including tees for all sizes and ages. Sean provides free and low-cost baby onesies to Down syndrome organizations for their new parent baskets. One dollar from every item ordered goes toward his new Welcome Baby Onesie Mission, and he already donates 10% of his profits to varying charitable organizations.
Yumi and Monster is a modern fairy tale inspired by the life of artist Kam Redlawsk, an Asian-American adoptee, artist, writer, and disability advocate who lives with a rare, degenerative muscle-wasting disease. The book tells the story of little Yumi, whose life of running and playing is interrupted when a mysterious "Monster" appears, coinciding with Yumi's body becoming slow and weak. Fearful, Yumi tries to avoid Monster until an unforgettable journey reveals what Monster truly wants: to teach Yumi to embrace a new kind of life. With stunning original art, this story will inspire anyone who has encountered illness, loss, or any seemingly insurmountable challenge.
All Things Sensory Shop sells fidgets handmade by Alissa, who has sensory processing difficulties, anxiety, autism, and ADHD. When designing her products, Alissa makes it a priority that the fidgets be unique, functional, and affordable. Products such as weighted pop tabs and bumpy silicone twisting fidgets are not only sold in a variety of colors to suit individual tastes, but they also provide an effective tool for grounding, skin picking, and stimming. She also sells chewelry, spinners, marble mazes, shakers, grounding necklaces, and more.
Carolyn is a crochet and clay artist who makes all the items in her shop by hand. She focuses on adding handmade joy to people’s everyday lives with cute and whimsical details. As a one-woman operation with chronic health issues, Carolyn creates crocheted plushies specifically designed to support neurodivergent individuals and mental health. Her clay jewelry and home décor blend cottagecore cuteness with functionality.
Morgan Tibbens is a young entrepreneur with Down syndrome who makes bath bombs, soaps, and foot scrubs in a variety of creative scents. Someday, she hopes to open her own brick-and-mortar shop to employ other people with disabilities. In the meantime, you can support her dream by buying a few products for your own at-home spa day.
There are so many incredible businesses owned by disabled individuals, or benefiting the disabled community, that have emerged over the last several years. We want to bring attention to as many of them as we possibly can! Check out the below list for additional businesses we want to spotlight.
The Arc of the United States is a national nonprofit organization that advocates for and supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by working to ensure that they have access to the resources, services, and opportunities they need to lead fulfilling lives. Their online store features baby onesies, clothing, hats, and accessories that celebrate their “Disability Rights Are Human Rights” motto.
Common Roots Farm is an urban farm with a mission to provide opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to learn job skills, forge connections, and take part in paid farming internships. Their facilities are largely wheelchair-, walker-, and scooter-accessible, making it possible for more people to participate in their programs. Using their farm’s fruits and vegetables, Common Roots makes jams, syrups, and condiments.
Seeds for Autism is a program in Phoenix, Arizona, that helps young adults with autism create a path from "learning to earning" via education, vocational training, and social development. Their online store includes items handcrafted by students in their workshop who are learning artisanal skills. Their work includes items like metal-crafted jewelry, gardening supplies, soaps, and wine bottle stoppers.
Last but not least: give the gift of Undivided! Founded by parents raising children with disabilities, Undivided provides an innovative app, 1:1 parent coaching, and access to experts to help make life easier for families navigating California’s complex education, public benefits, and health insurance systems. Memberships start at $9/month or $99/year for access to organizational tools, a digital workspace, advocacy services, and more.
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