Answer the Call
Last week I highlighted a few businesses that were started by parents of individuals on the autism spectrum. These parents were concerned about the lack of opportunities for employment of their children and decided to do something about it.
One business that I mentioned was called, “Popcorn for the People”. They did a segment on the Today Show, and I joked that I must not have been the only person that decided to place an order after watching it because they were sold out of many of their flavors. Here is an email I received from them:
How awesome is that? I am happy to wait for as long as it takes to get my popcorn!
During this past week I also had a couple of friends contact me to see if I had seen an article titled, “Empowering Possibilities”, by Joanne Palmer, in the April issue of the Colorado Country Life magazine. I hadn’t, my copy was still in my mailbox. I only check my mail when I go to town. Which I try not to do if I don’t have to. In my defense, my mailbox is 3.5 miles from my house!
The article highlights TACT (Teaching the Autism Community Trades). TACT is a Denver, Colorado based nonprofit organization started by Danny Combs in 2016. He was inspired to start TACT by his son Dylan, who had been diagnosed with autism.
As soon as I began to read the article I remembered that I had heard of TACT before. Last fall Travis’s Aunt Melanie had sent me a link to an episode of Mike Rowe’s show, “Returning the Favor”, on Facebook Watch. The show started in 2017 and followed Mike Rowe as he traveled across the United States in search of people that give back to their communities. Make a point to search Facebook for the episode. Make sure you have some Kleenex handy!
Danny Combs left a successful country music career in Nashville and moved back home to Denver, where he and his wife hoped to find more resources for Dylan. He tired of hearing therapists talk about what was wrong with Dylan.
Danny knew about the high unemployment rate for individuals on the autism spectrum and decided to do something about it.
Palmer, from Colorado Country Life magazine writes, “The odds were Dylan would grow up and never get a job. There was no road map for his son, no future. That was unacceptable to Danny. He was determined to map out a different future, not just for his son but also for others with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Danny refused to let the statistics stop him. As he read and researched, the numbers showed something else. Hope. Individuals with autism were ideal employees. Once they got jobs, they were incredibly loyal.”
Palmer goes on to say, “ Danny asked himself, why were people with ASD unable to get jobs? As he continued to research he discovered the answer: the issue was a slow learning curve. Individuals on the spectrum took longer to learn a job - an issue that was a deterrent for employers.”
Danny grew up in a family of tradespeople. And he had a master’s degree in education. He knew there was a demand for people to work in the trades and that most schools were no longer teaching shop classes.
Per Palmer, “Danny had no background in starting or running a nonprofit - no background in starting or running a hands-on vocational training center. Plus, there was no template to follow - if his idea worked, it would be the first program of its kind.”
TACT ‘s mission statement: “To encourage and empower the full spectrum of individuals with autism through education and employment in skilled trades.”
Their core values as listed on their website, buildwithtact.org, are inclusion, integrity, respect, grace, discipline, and empowerment.
TACT offers training in auto mechanics, carpentry, electrical, welding and computer science. TACT also holds camps and workshops for children 5 and over providing introductory instruction.
Danny found himself well-suited to teach the trades, and the community well-suited because of the need for more mechanics, welders and pipe fitters. The community recognized that what TACT does has value.
During TACT’s episode of Mike Rowe’s. “Returning the Favor”, the show gifted two vintage cars valued at $33,000 for the students to restore, as well as a check for $10,000. Once cars are restored, they are sold and the money goes back to the nonprofit. A local cameraman who is on the spectrum, Scott Klumb, helped with the shooting of the episode.
Danny mentioned during the show that teaching the trades to the students is a great fit because it is hands-on learning. He said that he can see the change in the self-esteem of his students, he can see it in their body language and hear it in their tone of voice.
TACT has impacted the lives of over 700 students. Danny makes sure that his programs are affordable. They want the program to be attainable for everyone. They take donations, find sponsors and apply for grants.
Colorado Parent Magazine nominated the organization as one of the top 5 nonprofits in the State of Colorado.
TACT has attracted nationwide attention and is exploring opportunities to franchise and expand their program to other cities.
I signed up for their newsletter. This could be a goal for Travis. Once we get his mental health stabilized.
Like the parents I wrote about last week, Danny Combs was called to a new purpose. And like those parents, he answered the call.
“There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It’s why you were born. And how you become most truly alive.” - Oprah Winfrey
“I believe there’s a calling for all of us. I know that every human being has value and purpose. The real work of our lives is to become aware. And awakened. To answer the call.” - Oprah Winfrey
“Your call to purpose isn’t necessarily about performing a specific task or being in a certain occupation. It’s about sharing yourself in a creative, loving way using the skills and interests that are inherently part of you.” - Wayne Dyer