Inspiring People With Disabilities To Live Their Fullest Lives: A Toad History

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and it's a cause that is near and dear to our hearts (and our triple bottom line business). Since 1997, we've partnered with Search, Inc – a Chicago-based non-profit – to support and inspire people with disabilities to live their fullest lives. Here's a brief history on our long and fruitful friendship.

1968 – Search, Inc. opens its first program for 8 kids with developmental disabilities in a Chicago suburb. It’s a grassroots movement started by parents advocating for the inclusion of their children into the public school system. Their vision is of a world where all people live, learn, work and play alongside one another, bringing their unique abilities to the community.

1972 – The Earth Child Emporium is established, Search’s first adult learning program for individuals at its school who are aging out of services.

1988 – Search opens it first supported Living Program, a home for residents in Chicago.

1995 – Horny Toad (now Toad&Co) opens its first store in downtown Telluride. Our HQ is Chicago where Gordon Seabury, Toad&Co CEO, meets John Lipscomb, Search President. They start hatching a plan.

1996 – Search buys, renovates, furnishes and staffs 9 new homes for 56 individuals – all in a span of 6 months.

1997 – Toad&Co and Search link up to co-found Planet Access Company, a third-party logistics warehouse in Chicago that trains and employs adults with disabilities. The original concept was for Search clients to make camping pillows using fleece scraps from Toad’s production. This idea ultimately gives way to the Planet Access Company (PAC) warehouse. Toad becomes their first client (fast forward to today: Millions of units are shipped out of the PAC warehouse, including 100% of Toad&Co's inventory!).

2000 – Visibility Arts established, a comprehensive visual arts program is launched to provide Search clients opportunities for self-expression, creativity and achievement.

2004 – Toad&Co and Search partner to launch Search for Adventure, a program to take individuals with developmental disabilities on their first outdoor adventure experiences. Trips are fully paid for and fully inclusive. The first trip is to Graceland in Memphis, TN.

2008 – Visibility Arts moves into its flagship gallery and studio space in Mt. Prospect, Chicago.

2010 – The Planet Access Co. Store opens in Lincoln Square in Chicago. It’s a retail store with a mission: 100% of the proceeds from purchases help over 500 people with disabilities live more independent lives. The store only carries brands that make sustainable and socially responsible clothing, jewelry and décor.

2012 - Search's Hop on the Bus to Independence hosts their first free workshops to help people with disabilities build skills to independently and safely use public transportation.

2013 – Search successfully merges with JJ's List, a smaller grassroots organization. This expands Search’s opportunities for self-advocacy and disability awareness training. The plucky acting-turned-teaching troupe, the Disability Awareness Players, is formed.

2015 – PAC Warehouse upgrades into a new 63,000 sq. ft. space to house its growing enterprise. More brands, more units, more employees, more good. Each year the company generates over 20,000 hours of paid, train-to-work opportunities, allowing individuals with disabilities to earn a wage while they gain valuable work experience.

2016 – Visibility Arts expands again with the opening of a second studio space and gallery.

2017 – Toad&Co sends the inclusive Canoemobile around the US to connect 1000 adults with disabilities to various National Parks across the US for their first time.

2020 – The new Planet Access Store opens in Chicago, offering brands that specialize in sustainable and socially responsible clothing, home goods, and jewelry. And (you guessed it), all purchases made in store support the programs of Search, Inc. 

 

Every Toad&Co purchase contributes to a bright future for adults with disabilities. Thank you for being part of this movement – we couldn't do it without our Toad fam!