Help Sustain Jobs for Asheville's Neurodivergent Workers

When my dear friend Ashley Deck opened Madam Clutterbuckets Neurodiverse Universe, she had a mission: to provide job opportunities for neurodivergent people, differently-abled workers, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After nearly 20 years working in special education, Ashley realized that there was a daunting shortage of job opportunities for these students once they grew to adulthood.

Ashley opened her one-of-a-kind shop in Asheville, North Carolina, and she bought a home in nearby Black Mountain. Asheville has been good to Ashley. In turn, she has not only helped promote the autonomy of her amazing staff, she has supported local artists, and collaborated with her staff to create merchandise that helps destroy inaccurate yet prevalent stereotypes about neurodivergent folks. Madam Clutterbuckets has since become the flagship example of how such challenges, in a thoughtful establishment, need not be so challenging after all.

The devastation of Hurricane Helene shattered the entire region. After the storm, Ashley drove north and filled her car with supplies: wheelchairs, sanitary items, water, food, etc. As always, one of her first impulses was to figure out a way to help those most vulnerable in her community.

The small businesses that make Asheville such a unique gem of a city may not be able to continue operations. The weeks lost as the infrastructure is rebuilt could spell the end for too many of them. October is one of the busiest times of year, when tourists flock to see the leaves. Asheville businesses depend on the revenue generated in the fall season to stay open for the rest of the year.

Please consider a donation, small or large, or shop online at https://www.madamclutterbuckets.com to help Madam Clutterbuckets continue their mission to redefine for the world what neurodivergent and differently-abled people can do.

Thanks so much for helping support Ashley, her staff, and their mission.

-- Sarah Azzara