Supported By The Taft Foundation, Rising Tide U Launches New Online Program, The Autism Advantage
Rising Tide U (RTU), providing a road map for families who believe starting a business is their only way to help loved ones with autism build a future, along with University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (UM-NSU CARD) and The Taft Foundation, recently launched The Autism Advantage, an online program. It is the only program of its kind that walks participants step-by-step through creating a social enterprise that supports neurodiverse individuals.
"We truly believe that social entrepreneurship is the key to independence, purpose, and fulfillment for people on the autism spectrum," said Thomas D'Eri, primary creator and developer of RTU, and COO of the highly successful Rising Tide Car Wash, a South Florida-based pioneering social enterprise that helps young people with autism build a career and achieve an independent lifestyle.
"With The Autism Advantage, we cover everything from finding the right idea, to getting funding, to launching a product the right way," he continued. "We teach entrepreneurs that success is because of autism, not in spite of it."
Beta-testing for the program has experienced great success so far, with 14 active participants, 12 parents, two organizations, one operational social enterprise, and two more social enterprises that are in the prototyping phase of launching...