For Spectrum Designs, a custom apparel and promotional products company in Pleasantville and on Long Island, every month is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), not just October. The business is dedicated to providing employment and vocational training for individuals with autism, who face a nearly 85% unemployment rate in the United States.
But at Spectrum, doing good is also about doing well as the company – which produces thousands of custom items daily for the likes of Google, JPMorgan Chase and Co., Microsoft and Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation – is expected to see sales grow from $5.5 million, the record set in 2023, to $6.2 million this year.
As Patrick Bardsley, co-founder and CEO of Spectrum Designs said at the Tuesday, Oct. 1, open house to celebrate the company’s milestones: “Today demonstrates the incredible possibilities that unfold when we recognize the potential in every individual and embrace what makes us different. Our employees aren’t just meeting expectations, they’re exceeding them – driving both our success and innovation and redefining what success means in the business world.”
The event marked the addition of four employees to Spectrum’s Westchester team, bringing it to its highest neurodiverse employment to date, with nearly 70% of its staff on the autism spectrum.
Attendees of the open house, including clients, community members and local officials, not only got a chance to see the inclusive environment of the Pleasantville facility but to celebrate an August video – created by social media manager Kelli Fisher, who is on the spectrum herself – which has boosted the company’s social media following by 1,243% and garnered 23 million views. The video features several neurodiverse team members sharing personal stories and commending Spectrum’s inclusive hiring practices. Within just 10 days of the video’s release, Spectrum received 206 new business order requests from Home Depot, Microsoft, Yeti and other companies.
“Social media has become a powerful tool for sharing our mission with the world, and it has opened doors for new business opportunities and greater awareness of the talents of people on the autism spectrum,” said Dylan Valic, head of marketing at Spectrum Designs.
Fisher has also been pivotal in other successful campaigns. Earlier this year, she helped inspire, develop and star in Spectrum’s “Out of the Box” campaign, which won multiple Telly Awards for its portrayal of neurodiverse talent and innovative approaches to breaking stereotypes.
“Working at Spectrum Designs has changed my life,” Fisher said. “It’s not just about a job; it’s about being part of a community that celebrates who you are.”
