Nestled away in a warehouse in Grove City is a company that is quite literally awesome. It’s called The Awesome Company.
“I think it’s awesome,” said Jacquie Mahan, the founder and owner of The Awesome Company. “It’s my favorite word.”
Jacquie Mahan founded it in 2016 with a simple mission: to employ and empower adults who live with autism.
At face value, employees at the company make t-shirts and custom apparel for people and organizations all over, but at heart, the employees are being built up in a world that often tears them down.
“People with autism are incredible, and they’re brave and they’re resilient and they’re strong, and their superpowers blow my mind,” Mahan said.
Humanity is diverse and in today’s fast-paced world, it can be hard for people with autism to keep up. Mahan believes in playing to people’s strengths.
“If we just slow down and meet people like where they are, you can get somewhere,” Mahan said. “I want you to find your gifts, re-define what you think is successful. If that is working two hours and that is life-changing, then that’s amazing. If it’s finding someone to connect to and spending time with them, that’s wonderful.”
Statistics from the National Institutes of Health show that about 85% of adults with autism are unemployed or underemployed. Many companies say they’ll employ people with autism, but Matthew Blair, who has autism, said most aren’t very accommodating.
“Most companies try to fit you into a box,” Blair said. “Here it’s more the opposite. They open the box. They try to understand who you are and get to know you. And try to find something that fits that description.”
Mahan said people with autism are often misunderstood, disrespected or picked on whereas at The Awesome Company, they’re valued, respected and uplifted.
“I actually like coming to work, which not everybody is so lucky,” said Brendan Pratt, a team member at The Awesome Company who has autism.
Employees perform a range of duties, from printing and folding shirts, writing thank-you notes, making buttons and garnering new business. Each job is a meaningful one, as it all contributes to a shared goal.
“The more custom apparel we sell, the more autistic adults we hire and help empower and support,” Mahan said.
Every day Mahan celebrates what makes a person unique in their own awesome way and believes in the power of the autism community. Now people from the autism community said they just need the world to believe in them.
“We all have unique abilities and are able to prove ourselves,” said Jonathan Mentser, a team member at The Awesome Company who has autism. “They have the same feelings as everybody else and they want to feel accepted and useful.”
It’s an Awesome Company working to make the world a more awesome place.
“Gosh, I certainly hope so,” Mahan said. “I’m definitely trying.”
The Awesome Company is opening an art gallery next door called “The Awesome Gallery” that will feature the artwork of autistic artists from around the country and offer a way for the artists to earn money.
An opening reception is set for Saturday, September 14 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature the work of Elizabeth Newell. Mahan named the inaugural show “Keep Growing.” For more information about The Awesome Company, visit here. For more information about The Awesome Gallery, visit here.