A father opened a car wash in 2015 so his son, who is on the autism spectrum, could have a job and be independent; the idea worked and he now employs 90 neurodivergent adults.
In 2015, John D’Eri, a father from Florida, USA, decided to open a car wash so that his son Andrew, who is on the autism spectrum, could have a job and be independent.
In an interview with CBS, Tom, Andrew’s brother, explained that the family understood the need to help Andrew take control of his own life.
“My brother Andrew is on the autism spectrum, and when he was in high school, it quickly became clear that for him to live the full adult life we knew he was capable of, we would have to take action,” he said.
The family patriarch’s idea—to provide employment not only for his son but also to offer a sense of purpose to adults with autism—grew, and in 10 years, three more car washes were opened and 90 neurodivergent people were hired.
“Everyone fits in here because we truly intend to build psychological safety and belonging,” Tom explained.
For Andrew, working at the car wash has great benefits: “I work here because I make good money and I talk to customers,” he said.
Images: Facebook @risingtidecarwash. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
