Who are we?
Written by Jack Dwyer
What’s the point of buying nuts made by neurodivergent workers? What need does this fulfill? Surely it shouldn’t matter who makes your nuts, just as long as they get sent to you and they’re delicious. You’re right. It should not matter who makes a product. But Neurodivergent Nuts is not about selling nuts, despite what we may have led you to believe. We are less about providing nuts to people as we are supporting neurodivergent young adults.
Neurodivergence refers to any individual who thinks differently than the social norm. This can present itself in people with medical diagnoses such as autism, ADHD, OCD, or any condition that deviates thought from what is considered “normal.” This is opposed to neurotypical, which refers to individuals whose brain functions are those expected and accepted by society.
It is approximated that 15% - 20% of the world’s population is neurodivergent.1 However, in the U.S., estimates say 30% - 40% of neurodivergent people are unemployed.2 It is an unfortunate reality in the business world that neurodivergent adults face more roadblocks to getting jobs than neurotypical adults. This is where Neurodivergent Nuts comes in to fill this need.
Neurodivergent Nuts is a project done by the students of NeuroDev, a vocational school for neurodivergent adults. The students at NeuroDev all come from the same background of social and personal malaise that has led to unhealthy coping skills such as social isolation, drug addiction, and self-hatred. These people have come together to create a community where they can learn about independent living skills, face their struggles together, and - most importantly, have fun.
We do Neurodivergent Nuts for our community. We are in the nut business not to sell nuts, but to provide new, important experiences and maximize success for a group of people that have rarely seen it. Nuts are just the medium we use to send our message – and that message is one of neurodivergent success.
The result? You get good and tasty nuts; we get personal growth and a sense of fulfillment. Every order of Neurodivergent Nuts helps support directly supporting the social and emotional well-being of a neurodivergent adult.
So what are you waiting for? Buy our nuts and support our cause!
Sources:
1: Doyle, N. (2020). Neurodiversity at work: A biopsychosocial model and the impact on working adults. British Medical Bulletin, 135(1), 108–125.
2: Neurodivergence at a Glance: Johns Hopkins University. https://imagine.jhu.edu/blog/2022/10/05/neurodivergence-at-a-glance/