With unemployment among individuals with autism estimated at approximately 85%, Rising Tide Car Wash has emerged as a pioneering social enterprise committed to breaking barriers and creating meaningful employment opportunities. Founded in 2013 by John D’Eri and his son Thomas D’Eri, the business was inspired by their personal experience watching Andrew D’Eri, John’s son and Thomas’ brother, struggle to find his place in the workforce.
Rising Tide Car Wash, which now operates three locations in South Florida – Parkland, Margate, and Coral Springs – has become one of the largest employers of individuals with autism in the United States. The company employs approximately 90 individuals on the autism spectrum and has developed a structured work environment designed to help them thrive.
“Our purpose is to help individuals with autism shine,” said Thomas D’Eri. “We strive to change the root cause of the approximate 85% unemployment rate among people with autism: society views autism as a disability as opposed to diversity.”
Beyond direct employment, Rising Tide Car Wash has cultivated an alumni network of more than 100 individuals with autism who have transitioned to other jobs or pursued higher education. One of the company’s notable former employees, Ahkeem Desinor, worked his way up to a managerial role before moving on to establish an agricultural non-profit that creates employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. His story exemplifies the cycle of empowerment that Rising Tide seeks to foster.
In addition to his work at Rising Tide, Thomas D’Eri has written The Power of Potential, a best-selling book that explores employment opportunities for workers with autism while addressing challenges that businesses commonly face in this area. In a bid to further awareness and inclusion, he will donate 650 copies of the book to the 20th-anniversary Autism Speaks Celebrity Chef Gala. The event, set to take place on 1 April 2025 in New York, has raised over $17 million in its 17-year history, supporting Autism Speaks’ mission of fostering an inclusive world for individuals with autism.
“I am proud to donate 650 copies of The Power of Potential to the Celebrity Chef Gala to help spread awareness and raise funds to create a world where every individual with autism can truly thrive,” D’Eri said.
Rising Tide Car Wash has received widespread recognition for its innovative employment model, which adapts workplace structures to suit the strengths of individuals with autism rather than forcing them to conform to conventional job expectations. The company’s model has been so successful that the D’Eri family launched Rising Tide U, an initiative aimed at helping entrepreneurs and business leaders harness the potential of autism employment in their own enterprises.
The urgency of addressing autism employment gaps is increasing. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in 36 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with boys being nearly four times more likely than girls to receive a diagnosis. Over the next decade, at least 500,000 more individuals with autism will enter the workforce, making the need for inclusive employment solutions more critical than ever.
By demonstrating the value of neurodiverse employees, Rising Tide Car Wash is not just providing jobs but reshaping the conversation around autism in the workplace. The D’Eri family remains committed to expanding their impact, advocating for broader acceptance and proving that individuals with autism are not limited by their diagnosis but empowered by their potential.
