Trail mix is made by employees at the Rishi Snacks commercial kitchen in Miami as they get ready for life. The company was started a year ago by Vijay and Manisha Patel, who named it after their autistic 21-year-old son Rishi.
“A big reason we started was for Rishi to have a purpose in life, to have something that he’s contributing to,” Vijay Patel recalls.
Rishi and his classmates attend classes multiple days a week in order to acquire skills.
“There’s different levels,” according to Manisha Patel. “Some of the kids cannot bag but they’re very good at doing the curry leaves. They’re accomplishing a little more every time they work.”
During the pandemic, hiring for disabled workers increased; however, the U.S. Labor Department reports that in 2023, only approximately 37% of adults with disabilities had a job, and that 30% of those who did had a part-time job.
The goal of Rishi Snacks and other small companies nationwide is to alter that.
“You want them to be doing something, contributing to society,” Vijay Patel stated. “They’re able to do a lot, they just need a little help.”
“I work with my friends,” he stated.
After the pupils graduate, the Patels intend to hire them. Inspired by a classic Indian snack, the packaged delights are available in five distinct varieties. These days, you can find them in grocery stores in New York, the Carolinas, and Florida.
