Addition of the Coral Springs Location Makes Broward County the National Leader in the Self-Supported Employment Model for Adults on the Autism Spectrum

Through the recent approval of a new Rising Tide Car Wash location in Coral Springs, the City of Coral Springs, Mayor Scott Brook, Vice Mayor Joy Carter and Coral Springs Commissioners Shawn Cerra, Larry Vignola and Joshua Simmons have demonstrated that Coral Springs is an inclusive city, promoting a progressive environment supportive of individuals with autism.

Rising Tide Car Wash, a groundbreaking social enterprise with a primary mission to employ adults with autism, already has two locations in Parkland and Margate. The addition of the Coral Springs location will make Broward County the national leader in the self-supported employment model for adults on the autism spectrum. Rising Tide brings an increased awareness to the community at large about the importance of employing individuals on the autism spectrum, and their capability to participate in and contribute to the community.

The Coral Springs Commission recently approved the development of the Rising Tide Car Wash location at 10340 Royal Palm Boulevard, Coral Springs, FL 33065. The Coral Springs location will continue bringing inclusivity to the city, creating 25 more jobs, opportunity and a sense of pride for community members who are on the autism spectrum.

The City’s Building Department has ensured that the location - which conforms to all of the city’s codes - will not impact surrounding neighbors. Rising Tide will not impede traffic, and adheres to Coral Springs’ sound requirements, producing less noise than the existing ambient noise. Rising Tide will install landscaping which will also significantly reduce any noise. There is no lighted building signage higher than the roofline that would be viewable to the surrounding homes.

“The support that the City of Coral Springs Commission, Economic Development team and Building Development team have shown for us to build this new location showcases that Coral Springs is an inclusive community,” said John D’Eri, CEO of Rising Tide Car Wash. “This third Rising Tide location is an incredible step forward for Broward County, as it puts it in the national spotlight as the No. 1 self-supported employment ethos for adults on the autism spectrum.

“Currently, unemployment among people with autism is approximately 85 percent, and at least 500,000 more individuals with autism will enter the workforce in the next decade,” he continued. “Rising Tide and the City of Coral Springs are changing the root cause of this unemployment: Society views autism as a disability, as opposed to a diversity.”

With construction expected to begin in spring 2021 with the proper city building permits, the Coral Springs location is slated to open in late 2021 or early 2022. Rising Tide has design plans to present and work on with the City of Coral Springs. Built as a custom car wash from the ground up, the Coral Springs Rising Tide Car Wash will feature state-of-the-art equipment in a convenient location, set back from Royal Palm Boulevard and an access road. Its operating hours will be 8 a.m.–7 p.m.

The Coral Springs Rising Tide Car Wash location is made possible through the incredible community support including the City of Coral Springs; the Coral Springs Commission; U.S. Congressman Ted Deutch; Parkland Vice Mayor Bob Mayersoh; former Parkland Vice Mayor David Rosenof; Margate Mayor Tommy Ruzzano and the Margate City Counsel; Dan Daley, Florida State Representative; Michael Alessandri, Executive Director of UM-NSU CARD; Dr. Sonja Clay, Broward County Public Schools Director of Exceptional Student Learning Supports, Secondary; Stacy Wolfe, Broward County Public Schools Transition Supervisor; Donna Bussiere, Director of Atlantis Academy Coral Springs; Patricia Giner, Director of LIFE Programs at Atlantis Academy; Krista M. Hadeed, MS, Utter Brilliance Speech Pathology; Carole Zangari, Ph.D., Executive Director, NSU CARD Satellite; Helene Fisher, Professor at Nova Southeastern University; Melody Erez, Acorn and Oak Therapy; Nathaniel Flynn, Job Coach at Atlantic Technical College; Laura Glorioso, Job Coach at Atlantic Technical College; Andrea Jacobs, Esq., Brodzki Jacobs Law Partner, Coral Springs; and Luke and Lynn Gardella Zenda.

Rising Tide, a high-quality car wash, is one of the largest employers of people with autism in the U.S. Rising Tide and its consultants created an innovative model that breaks the car washing process into 46 distinct steps. Employees work in a mirror image of each other, and are able to thrive off the repetitive structure to produce extraordinary results.

John D’Eri, and his son Thomas D’Eri, COO of Rising Tide Car Wash, co-founded Rising Tide Car Wash in 2013 to develop a scalable solution to employing individuals with autism. They were inspired to do this by watching John’s son and Thomas’ brother Andrew, a vibrant young man with autism, struggle to find his place in the world. Rising Tide Car Wash is one of the largest employers of people with autism in the U.S.

Rising Tide has been honored with the U.S. Senate Small Business of the Week designation; The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), Blind Services, and Vocational Rehabilitation’s Florida Exceptional Employers designation; Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Leader in Adult Autism Award, Community Service Leadership Award from the International Carwash Association® (ICA), Employer of the Year by the Autism Society, Small Business of the Year by South Florida Business Connection, the Autism Society’s Adam Heavner Memorial Award for Employer of the Year, TEDxCoconutGrove’s Hope Prize, and more.

About Rising Tide Car Wash

Rising Tide Car Wash is a scalable social enterprise with the primary mission to employ adults with autism. By delivering a first-rate car wash experience to the consumer, Rising Tide strives to inspire communities to change their perception of the capabilities of people with autism. Through intensive training, team building and caring for the community, Rising Tide sets its employees up for success. With this model, Rising Tide has a goal to provide people with autism with an opportunity to build a career and achieve an independent lifestyle. Rising Tide Car Wash has two locations: 7201 N. State Rd 7, Parkland, FL 33067; and 2970 N. State Rd 7, Margate, FL 33063. It is open seven days a week from 8 a.m.–7 p.m. For more information, visit www.risingtidecarwash.com, call (954) 344-1855 or email info@risingtidecarwash.com.