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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A smiling young woman with Down syndrome, long black hair with bangs, and dark-rimmed glasses holds a pink loom hook at a wooden desk. She wears a pink tie-dye T-shirt, a black watch, and a blue woven bracelet. A loom with blue and pink rubber bands lies on the desk in front of her, and a pink sign behind it reads “Loomed with Love” with a yellow and blue awareness ribbon.

Loomed with Love

Website

Loomed with Love is a small business in which Victoria handcrafts meaningful loom products including bracelets and keychains. With over 11 colors, 12 meaningful word charms, and a variety of designs, the possibilities to customize a product you can call your own are endless. Victoria hopes to inspire individuals to uniquely express themselves while contributing to non-profit organizations. She hopes people love her special creations just as much as she loves making them!

A woman with Down syndrome, long brown hair in pigtails, and glasses sits in a booth under a pink canopy. She wears a pink puffer vest over a lavender tie-dye long-sleeved shirt. T-shirts in blue, black, rainbow tie-dye, maroon, teal, and purple hang behind her with hand-lettered messages such as “Be kind,” “Be the change,” and “Smile with me.” The teal tablecloth holds notepads, mugs, hats, a stuffed bunny, and a sign with a QR code. A paint-splatter banner on the front of the table reads “Magic by Greer”

Magic by Greer

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Magic by Greer started in 2019. Greer started her business with her tablets with her handwriting. She has donated over $9,000 to Special Olympics and Developmental and Disability Services of Lebanon County. Greer loves creating new merchandise and collaborating with others.

A smiling young man with Down syndrome, short light brown hair, and dark-rimmed glasses stands with his hands in the pockets of his khaki shorts. He wears a gray T-shirt with a cartoon of a man holding a microphone and the text “Matthew Schwab Speaks!” and a black watch. Behind him, a black banner reads “Public Speaker” along with partly visible lines about a Down syndrome advocate and ambassador, and a woman in a pink cap sits at a table with stacks of gray shirts.

Matthew Schwab

Website

I'm a 24-year-old North Carolina native. I recently realized a lifelong dream and moved into an apartment with my younger brother in Apex, NC.

I graduated from High School in June 2017 with an Occupational Course of Study diploma. I completed Project Search, an internship-based educational program at Wake Technical Community College.

I currently work at Ruckus Pizza, Pasta & Spirits and 321 Coffee. I’ve worked at Chick-Fil-A, Fuquay Revolution Volleyball, and at a local movie theater. I also worked in the NC Legislature for State Representative John Bradford.

I also believe that serving my community is important, so I’ve been a community volunteer for several years.

I am passionate about raising awareness of Down syndrome, as well as all other intellectual and developmental disabilities. I love to speak to groups large and small, about a variety of topics and the impact on those of us with IDD.

Most notably, in December 2019, I gave a TEDx talk! And recently, I was interviewed by Anthony Padilla for his I Spent the Day With… series on YouTube.

I am a dynamic and passionate speaker, and I would love the opportunity to speak to your group too! Please check out my website for more information… www.matthewschwabspeaks.com

A smiling young man with Down syndrome, short dark brown hair, and dark-rimmed glasses holds two bottles of barbecue sauce in front of him against a white background. He wears a gray plaid shirt over a white T-shirt. The round labels show a cartoon man in front of a fire with the text “Matthew’s Bonfire BBQ” and the slogan “Food. Fire. Friends. Better together.” The flavors are “Blueberry chipotle” and “Carolina gold.”

Matthew's Bonfire BBQ

Website

The spark that ignites the fire is Chef Matthew himself. Having Down syndrome has never stopped him from doing anything he sets his mind out to do. With an instinctive love of cooking since childhood and training at the award-winning Haywood Smokehouse in North Carolina during college, Matthew was inspired to launch his first line of barbecue sauces – Carolina Gold and Blueberry Chipotle.

A smiling young man with Down syndrome, short brown hair, and glasses holds his hands out toward a row of eight spice shakers with black lids on a wooden board. He wears a blue-and-white gingham shirt and a tan apron with the logo “Max Mix Gourmet spice blends.” Behind him are a rustic wooden plank wall, white chairs, and a wicker basket.

Max Mix Gourmet Spice Blends

Website

What began as gift-making for teachers, family, and friends developed into a passion for meaningful work, independence, and self-advocacy. Founded by Max Crawford, in the Fall of 2023, Max Mix currently offers high-quality spice rubs for sale through our website and local pop-up opportunities in the Missouri and Kansas areas.

Two people stand with their arms around each other on grass in front of a weathered wooden barn and an old truck. At left, a smiling woman with long, wavy light brown hair wears a dark green hoodie with a small line-drawn face logo and the text “My guy,” along with jeans and cowboy boots. At right, a man with Down syndrome wears a navy cap with a leather patch reading “My guy,” a light gray hoodie with the same logo, jeans, and black shoes.

My Guy

Website

Marty is a young man with Down Syndrome who loves collecting hats and making new friends! Through his online store and popup events, he gets to combine his love of both! Each hat, shirt, sweatshirt (and more!) is made with love and shipped directly to you with a personal note written (or dictated) by Marty!

A man with Down syndrome and short red-brown hair rests his head on his hand and smiles slightly while sitting in a folding chair at a vendor table. He wears a gray T-shirt with the words “Just do it.” in white and red. The table has a bright plaid cloth and holds a notebook, pens, a water bottle, colorful coasters, and a framed photo of a green tree, with string lights and a brick pavement behind him.

Nate's Funky Pics

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Nate's Funky Pics sells his photos at numerous markets and craft fairs in the suburban Philadelphia region. He posts these photos on his social media sites (Facebook and Instagram) and his Etsy store where he sells the prints. Nate has won awards for his photography including the 2017 Perspective Award from the Down Syndrome Association in London, England. Nate donates a portion of his sales to PALS Programs – the summer camp that he has attended since he was 15.

A woman with Down syndrome, with long dark curly hair, and brown-framed glasses smiles slightly while holding up a children’s book in front of bookshelves. She wears a rust-red collared shirt. The cover shows the title “Olivia the Bully” in yellow letters above an illustration of a cat-like cartoon character in a blue jacket surrounded by other animals, with the word “Author” and the name “Everett” visible below.

Olivia the Series

Website

"Olivia the Series" is a collection of children's books written by Engelic Everett that were designed to inspire and uplift readers of all ages! With a focus on themes like anti-bullying, respect, manners, and self-compassion, each book aims to foster kindness and empathy. Grab your copies today and join Engelic and Olivia in spreading positivity — one story at a time.

A man with Down syndrome, short brown hair, light stubble, and black-rimmed glasses smiles slightly while holding a jar of taco seasoning on a deck with green, forested mountains behind him. He wears a navy polo shirt and a white apron with a logo of a cartoon face with glasses and flame-shaped hair and the text “Pman the Chef” and “Seasonings & BBQ rubs.” The jar shows the same logo and the words “Taco seasoning.”

Pman the Chef

Website

Pman the Chef is a purpose-driven seasoning and spice brand founded by Patrick "Pman" Stinson, a passionate cook, Marvel enthusiast, and fitness lover from North Carolina who also happens to have Down Syndrome. Patrick crafts two signature products — his Down-Right Delicious Taco Seasoning, a perfectly balanced southwestern blend that works beautifully on beef, chicken, crab cakes, and more, and his Sweet BBQ Rub, a bold, crowd-pleasing rub made for pork and chicken on the smoker or grill.

Collage of four squares. At top left, on purple, is a hair bow in blue, yellow, and white with awareness ribbons. At top right, on white, is the logo: a fleur-de-lis shape in pink, blue, and yellow with a ribbon curve and a circle reading “PK,” above “Precious” in pink script and “Kreations Inc” in blue. At bottom left, on pink, is a silver charm bracelet with a charm of the same logo and a silver awareness ribbon. At bottom right, on yellow, a young woman with Down syndrome and wavy hair

Precious Kreations, Inc.

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Precious Kreations, Inc. was founded in 2020 during the COVID-19 Pandemic by Precious who happens to have Down syndrome and her mother. PK offers fashionable jewelry such as earrings, necklaces, charms and bracelets wearable by children and adults. In addition a full jewelry collection, t-shirts, hair accessories and more. Precious is a Diva Fashionista shouting “Just because you have a disAbility; does not mean you can't be stylish”.

Young woman with Down syndrome and shoulder-length dark hair smiles and raises both fists overhead at an outdoor vendor booth. She wears a metallic silver jacket over a navy top with a geometric pattern. Pink items hang behind her, a jewelry display sits in the foreground, and blurred festival tents are in the background.

Raquel Beautiful

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I started Raquel Beautiful to inspire others to value others and themselves! I make hand created and custom designed jewelry and t-shirts, each with a special note that says “You are beautiful!” When you purchase an item from me, a portion of the proceeds goes to provide inspirational items for those that are struggling with challenges and to benefit charitable organizations.

A man with Down syndrome, a shaved head, and dark-rimmed glasses smiles slightly as he holds a Nikon camera in both hands outdoors. He wears a navy T-shirt and a red-and-black patterned camera strap, with green branches and foliage behind him.

River Bend Gallery

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Geoffrey Mikol is a professional artist that owns River Bend Gallery with his family, in historic Galena, Illinois. As a person born with Down syndrome, Geoffrey has found a special connection with photography as a means of expressing himself. His artwork is stunning and often technically difficult, catching elusive light that the eye sees but that cameras often miss.