In 2007, Extraordinary Ventures was founded by a group of families in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with the goal of creating meaningful jobs for an often-overlooked workforce: adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities such as autism.
From the outset, our vision has been to create and manage a portfolio of small business ventures designed around the skills and interests of an inclusive workforce. Our local businesses meet market needs while using the principles of universal design to ensure that jobs are tailored to maximize the talents of our employees.
Our goal: to enable every individual in our society the opportunity to achieve their highest quality of life.
Over the years, core businesses like Blue Hill Event Center and Extraordinary Laundry have grown and flourished, while other ventures have been tried and replaced with different ones that better fit our employees’ talents and the needs of the local community.
One thing that never changes is the extraordinary goal for all of our endeavors: to enable every individual in our society the opportunity to achieve their highest quality of life, regardless of their intellectual and developmental abilities.
Autism and Employment: A Candid Discussion with Gregg, Lori and Gina Ireland of Extraordinary Ventures – An interview on the founding, lessons, and successes of Extraordinary Ventures, as well as the Extraordinary People film.
Parents create custom jobs for adult kids with autism – USA Today interview with Lori Ireland on the founding of Extraordinary Ventures.
Extraordinary Ventures
200 S. Elliott Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
info@extraordinaryventures.org
Extraordinary Ventures is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
EIN: 11-3808390.
