Around 1 in 100 children in the world suffers from autism, as recorded by the World Health Organization (WHO). Even though there has been an increase in support for children and adults suffering from autism, they are often subject to stigma and discrimination, especially when finding work. Many organisations do not want to employ someone with autism. However, a father stood up for his 24-year-old son, who suffers from the disorder, by creating an employment opportunity for him. His efforts have not only turned out to be helpful for his own son but have also given access to work prospects to other people suffering from autism.
Andrew D’Eri, a 24-year-old man suffering from autism in the USA, began looking for work. Looking at his valiant efforts, his brother and father decided to open a car wash company known as Rising Tide Car Wash. This gesture by Andrew’s family not only gave him an opportunity to work but also helped over 80 individuals with similar circumstances the opportunity to work somewhere.
Initially, they started with just a few employees, but currently, they have two units in Parkland, Florida. They have employed 82 people suffering from autism as their employees, which makes up 90 per cent of their workforce.
Their story was shared on Instagram by Goodnews Movement. They wrote, “Like many with autism, Andrew D’Eri, at 24, had a hard time finding a suitable job. That’s until his entrepreneur dad and older brother, who recently finished business school, had an idea to open a car wash business in 2013 that would cater to their skill set.”
Founder and CEO of the car wash, John D’Eri, highlighted the positives of having people with autism at work. He added that they are very structured in their tasks and pay close attention to details. He also called them one of the best employees to work with.
Once the post was uploaded, many people were impressed by John’s gesture and went to the comment section to praise him. One of the users wrote, “I live in Parkland and can vouch for this being an incredible addition to our community!” Another user commented, “My son has autism, and he’s obsessed with car washes, this is truly heartwarming.”
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