Entrepreneurship Creates Opportunities for Individuals with Down Syndrome

For individuals with Down syndrome, owning a business can mean more than earning a paycheck. It can mean having the freedom to make decisions, build something around a personal passion, and share talents with the community.

According to a 2024 article from the US Department of Labor, individuals with disabilities are nearly three times more likely to engage in self-employment (9.9%) than in wage-and-salary roles (3.7%) as means of employment. While entrepreneurship offers exciting opportunities, starting and growing a business can come with challenges, including finding funding, accessing training, and connecting with the right support.

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Smiling young woman with Down syndrome and long, wavy blond-highlighted hair poses with one hand resting on a red brick wall. She wears an oversized teal T-shirt and black leggings.

Down Right Designs

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Down Right Designs was created when Anna, a young adult with Down syndrome began experimenting for fun with fluid painting in 2018 with a friend. As friends and family began requesting paintings, Anna decided to make it a business. It has grown in the last few years to include having her art in several states and local shops. The business has expanded the products offered to include specialty tiles, ornaments, and other items.

Outdoor vendor booth under a white canopy with a banner that reads “Down-Right Perfect Gifts” in gold letters beside a blue heart outline, with the tagline “Spreading awareness... one gift at a time!” Tables with navy cloths hold jewelry and gifts on yellow and black displays. A young woman with Down syndrome in a pink dress stands behind the center table beside a small white sign with the same logo, and a navy patterned rug covers the pavement in front.

Down-Right Perfect Gifts

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Down-Right Perfect Gifts offers a collection of specially-designed handcrafted jewelry created by Hannah. Her goal is two-fold: she wants to use her creative gifts and voice to help raise awareness of the abilities, achievements, and contributions of people with Down syndrome while working toward her own personal goal of living and working independently.

A young man with Down syndrome, short brown hair, and dark-rimmed glasses laughs as he holds a black DSLR camera in both hands. He wears a light mint T-shirt, a black wristband, and a red paisley camera strap, and stands in an alley with brick buildings and colorful murals behind him.

Downs and Towns. LLC

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Houston Vandergriff is a globe-trotting photographer. His award winning photography has been showcased in solo shows, galleries, juried competitions, and in arts and travel magazines. His fine art prints and photo-related merchandise are for sale on his website. You can follow his adventures on Instagram and TikTok @downsandtowns.

A woman with Down syndrome in glasses, a red knit hat, a denim vest over a white shirt, and a red scarf smiles while performing with two puppets: a blue furry puppet on one raised hand and a puppet with an orange face, blond hair, and a lavender headband on the other. A colorful play structure in red, yellow, green, and blue sits in the foreground, with a leafy plant and shelves behind.

Dusty's Puppets

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Dusty Dutton, 44, is a talented and experienced entertainer. She has Down syndrome, and uses her unique sense of humor to bring her hand puppets to life. She has formal training in working with young children, and never fails to bring smiles to their faces. Dusty has been in business as a puppeteer and puppet retailer for 14 years! She is a member of the Puppeteers of America and the San Francisco Bay Area Puppetry Guild.

A smiling woman with Down syndrome, long dark brown hair, and glasses stands with one hand on her hip behind a table with a red-and-white checkered, heart-patterned cloth. She wears a red bell-sleeved top, a pearl necklace, and a red apron with a small logo. The table holds a vase of pink flowers, a tray of small chocolates, a bouquet of red and white carnations, and wooden crates of wrapped treats with chalkboard labels. A sign behind her reads “Hire with higher impact.” and “AllWorkCT.”

Emma's Pearlz

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Emma Tuttle is a vibrant young lady with passion for cooking, having being raised surrounded by delightful dishes and a warm atmosphere. Her volunteer work at Southington Bread for Life, a nearby soup kitchen, inspired her to start baking goods for the town’s farmers market using honey from their hives, and Emma’s Pearlz was born! Emma has been dedicated to mastering her honey cakes, designed in charming beehive shapes. They became an instant hit through a combination of providence, ardent champions and her refreshingly genuine charm.  Emma’s Pearlz has grown and now offers six different flavors. Besides showcasing her talents in the kitchen, Emma is also a skilled weaver. She crafts and sells beautiful scarves, shawls, table runners and placemats.

A young man with Down syndrome and short brown hair crouches on a paint-splattered floor and rolls red paint across a large abstract canvas with yellow, green, blue, and black splatters. He wears a black T-shirt with a graphic, black track pants with a white stripe, and white sneakers. A cup of red paint sits beside him, and a wall covered in photographs is behind him.

Emmett Kyoshi Art

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Emmett Kyoshi Wilson is an abstract artist, primarily painting in acrylic mixed media. Since age four, Emmett has created over 80 pieces which have been featured in three gallery showings over the last three years, including a commission to paint the American Flag for the American Embassy in Croatia. His internationally acclaimed art is available for purchase as originals, signed giclée prints and into wearable art with hoodies, blankets and tee shirts.

Studio headshot of a smiling man with Down syndrome and short brown hair against a dark gray background. He wears a light gray suit jacket, a lavender checked collared shirt, and a purple patterned tie.

Empathy 321

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Empathy 321’s mission is to empower people with Down Syndrome of all ages to become self-advocates in their homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. We do this by providing training on how to speak up about one’s individual wants, needs, and rights in everyday life. Empathy 321 also promotes the growing independence of individuals with Down Syndrome by training employers, educators, and organizations on how to provide full inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

A woman with Down syndrome, dark hair in a bun and bangs, and wire-rimmed glasses sits with her hands clasped in front of a red coffee roaster and stainless steel equipment. She wears a burnt-orange T-shirt with the text “Furnace Hills” in white above a rectangular design of swirling steam lines.

Furnace Hills Coffee

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We were founded in 2010, and are a gourmet specialty coffee business located in the Furnace Hills of Westminster, Maryland. Every day, we fulfill our customers wishes by supplying them with freshly roasted bags of specialty coffee and delivering it right to their doorsteps.

A smiling young woman with Down syndrome, brown hair pulled back, and dark-rimmed glasses holds up an iced coffee drink in a clear cup with a pink straw. She wears a lime green T-shirt with a brown name tag that reads “Gabi” and a round logo that reads “Gabi’s Grounds Coffee Shop” and “A hug in a mug,” showing a coffee mug, a ribbon banner, and a flower. A teal painting hangs on the wall behind her.

Gabi's Grounds

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Gabi's Grounds is an advocate for the value, inclusion, and acceptance of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We promote equal access to persons with disabilities in our workplace. We create market value that includes everyone in an enriched community while providing great coffee and a unique customer service experience.

Man with Down syndrome and short dark hair smiles slightly as he stands outside next to beige house siding. He wears a purple gingham button-up shirt and a black tie with a small American flag pin, with wired earbuds hanging around his neck. A dark vehicle is parked behind him.

Gift of God Creations

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Jeff founded Gifts of God's Creations, a craft and ceramics business, in 2019. Inspired by Matthew 17:20 - "Our faith can move mountains," Jeff creates artwork in a variety of mediums, including crosses, earrings, and buttons. He is most inspired by his younger brother, Jason, and his faith in God.  

A young woman with Down syndrome and long, straight light brown hair and dark-rimmed glasses holds up a sheet of paper covered in painted color swatches in a rainbow of shades. She wears a red dress with a small white floral print and sits in an art studio with shelves of paint bottles, brushes, and more swatches on a white table behind her.

GracePlace Art

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Grace is a young lady who loves art. After getting her first big girl desk at eight years old, Grace started spending more and more time pursuing this passion. Since then, art has become therapeutic for her; a safe space for self expression and a technique to help her navigate emotions. GracePlace Art was created to give Grace a platform through which she could share her art, and her story with the world. Her hope is to empower the Down syndrome and special needs communities, inspiring people of all abilities to follow their dreams, no matter how wild.

Smiling young woman with Down syndrome, blond hair, a black headband, and round wire-rimmed glasses holds up a white mug with a silver foil coffee bag inside. The mug shows a cartoon girl in a pink dress holding a cup beside a small gray dog, with the text “Gracie’s Doggie Delights” and “Get up and go coffee.” She wears a black-and-white top with a pink pattern and blue nail polish and sits against a blue-and-white checkered background.

Gracie's Doggie Delights

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Gracie's Doggie Delights is operated by an enterprising young woman with Down syndrome who loves dogs. These are her dog's favorites and we hope they will your pet's favorites too. Her Doggie Delights are made with just ONE ingredient. Freeze dried USDA inspected meat. No additives. No chemicals. The high value dog treat you've been looking for.