In Miami, a snacking initiative is giving young adults with special needs a platform for employment and self-expression. Rishi Snacks, a company started by Vijay and Manisha Patel, is merging the flavorful zest of traditional Indian snacks with the need for inclusive work environments. Launched in February last year, this family business is named after their 21-year-old son Rishi, who has autism.
The Patels, recognizing the scant employment opportunities for individuals like their son, crafted a solution that was as much about empowerment as it was about entrepreneurship. "A big reason we started was for Rishi to have a purpose in life, to have something that he's contributing to," Vijay Patel told CBS News Miami. The reality of unemployment for adults with disabilities is sobering, with the U.S. Labor Department indicating only about 37% were employed in 2023, many of them part-time.
In stark contrast to such statistics, Rishi Snacks is providing a hearty recipe for success. The students, including Rishi, learn and labor at a commercial kitchen, acquiring job skills that range from sorting ingredients to bagging the finished product for retail. According to Manisha Patel's interview with WSVN 7News, some students excel in certain tasks, such as handling curry leaves, and are encouraged in these capacities to fulfill productive roles in the operation.
Rishi himself finds joy and camaraderie in the enterprise. "I work with my friends," he said. The Patels' mission extends beyond their own family to their son's schoolmates, who join Rishi in the kitchen several days a week. This collaborative effort is building a bridge to independence for these young adults, preparing them for the workforce upon graduation. Meanwhile, the output from their efforts yields five different flavors of snacks now stocked on grocery shelves across Florida, the Carolinas, and New York.
The sense of achievement is tangible, as Manisha Patel described to WSVFN 7News. Every day is a lesson in empowerment and inclusion, whether it's preparing snacks in the kitchen or venturing into the community to sell them. "They teach me a lot, every time," Manisha said, highlighting the reciprocal nature of the venture.
