This guest post is by Rachel Duffy, founder of The Spotlight Project. Rachel is applying for our Supporting Small Businesses That Hire People With Disabilities Grant Opportunity ran by my nonprofit KFM Making A Difference. You can learn more about the grant opportunity here.
I hope you can support my nonprofit like I’m trying to support our community. I also produce educational videos to celebrate neurodiversity by spotlighting individuals impacted by a diagnosis. Learn more on how you can help our cause with a small donation (just asking for $3 today, equal to your daily cup of coffee) here.
My name is Rachel and I started a brand with purpose called The Spotlight Project. I noticed a need for a company like this through my full time job as a physical therapist in a special needs school. When speaking with my students’ families I noticed a common trend of fear and stress from lack of opportunities for their children upon graduation. This led to the creation of The Spotlight Project, a bracelet company aimed to raise employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We strive to shine a light on their talents and inspire other companies to hire people with disabilities for key roles within their teams.
In the past year, we’ve seen a tremendous growth in skill from all of our team members through more advanced designs, and have started student internship programs to prepare special need students to enter the work force. We work on bracelet making, quality assessment, marketing, and interview skills.
Our brand focuses on sharing our teams triumphs through behind the scenes videos and photos. We also have a “Meet the Makers” section where we introduce you to each member of The Spotlight Project.
Follow my journey on Facebook, my Facebook Fan Page, & Instagram!
Kerry Magro, a professional speaker and best-selling author who is also on the autism spectrum started the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference in 2011 to help students with autism receive scholarship aid to pursue a post-secondary education.
Have Kerry, one of the only professionally accredited speakers on the spectrum in the country, speak at your next event by sending him an inquiry here. If you have a referral for someone who many want him to speak please reach out as well! Kerry speaks with schools, businesses, government agencies, colleges, nonprofit organizations, parent groups and other special events on topics ranging from employment, how to succeed in college with a learning disability, internal communication, living with autism, bullying prevention, social media best practices, innovation, presentation best practices and much more!
