Inspiring People With Disabilities To Live Their Fullest Lives: A Toad History
A brief history on our long friendship with Search, Inc. – a Chicago-based non-profit – as together, we aim to support and inspire people with disa...
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Planet Access
Planet Access is our social venture and partnership with Search, Inc., a nonprofit providing high-quality services and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Founded in 1997 with a state-of-the-art 3PL facility, The Planet Access Company (PAC) warehouse employed up to 70 individuals with disabilities annually in paid, train-to-work opportunities. PAC also offered a transition program for high schoolers to help set them up for career success. All profits from PAC were reinvested back into Search, Inc.
Over 20 years later, we’ve revisited how we can maximize impact beyond the PAC warehouse. Here’s what Planet Access looks like now:
Planet Access Stores
The single Planet Access store in Lincoln Square, Chicago is growing to three stores in the Chicago area, expanding job opportunities for people with disabilities.
Visibility Arts
A space for professional and emerging adult visual artists with disabilities to explore, learn, create, and show their artwork. Artwork is sold at our Toad&Co Maine stores in Freeport and Portland. Proceeds go directly to the artists and fund additional initiatives.
Search For Adventure
A travel program that facilitates adventure vacations for adults with disabilities, we’re expanding Search for Adventure’s reach and accessibility to include more participants beyond the Search, Inc. community. For 20+ years, we’ve taken amazing trips that include hiking the historic Appalachian Trail and a partnership with the National Park Foundation to bring more than 1,300 people with disabilities into 10 different national parks.
Disability Awareness Training
Disability Awareness Trainings teach organizations to integrate disability-aware customer service and employment practices into core business strategies. Our vision is to scale this invaluable training program virtually to as many industry retailers and partner brands as possible.
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