With more than 35 employees with autism, Rising Tide is a car wash with a cause. Employee V’lon Small, business co-founders Tom D’Eri and his father John, and first-time customer Amy Youngblood spoke about the car wash.
With more than 35 employees with autism, Rising Tide is a car wash with a cause.
It has special meaning to the father and son co-founders.
“My brother has autism. He’s 22 years old and probably for the last three years we’ve been thinking about what Andrew’s going to do,” Tom D’Eri, who founded the Parkland car wash with his father John. “It means so much to us to create something that can actually have an impact on so many individuals.”
“I like this job because it’s fun and better than staying home and doing nothing and all that stuff and it’s very important to pay rent and I’ve been dying to have a job all my life,” V'lon Small said.
It’s only been a month since the car wash opened up and already business is looking pretty good.
“We’re the largest single store retail employer of individuals with autism," said Tom D'Eri.
And he’s talking about in the entire country.
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Squeaky clean work that this first time customer can appreciate.
“I think it’s amazing because I have a 4-year-old autistic boy ,and I feel like the opportunities are endless if we make them possible for the future,” Amy Youngblood said.
The founders plan on expanding across the country.
With 46 steps for each employee to master the level of service and success is high and customer satisfaction is guaranteed.
“I like this job because it’s a lot of fun. They're treating me like an adult and what it is to be a carwasher,” said Small.
