When John D’Eri began worrying about his autistic son Andrew’s future, he did not see a lack of ability. He saw a lack of workplaces designed to recognize it.
That concern eventually led the D’Eri family to build Rising Tide Car Wash, a South Florida business where autistic adults can earn a paycheck, learn workplace skills and pursue greater independence. What began with one family’s question now supports more than 90 autistic employees across three operating locations.
- 3Operating locations
- 90+Autistic employees
- 250+Careers launched
- 80%Share of staff with autism
Source: Rising Tide Car Wash, accessed November 2026
A father’s question became a business idea
Andrew D’Eri was approaching adulthood when his father began thinking seriously about what would happen after Andrew aged out of the school system.
The family’s concern was not simply whether Andrew could stay occupied. They wanted him to have the responsibilities, relationships and independence that meaningful paid work can provide.
According to Rising Tide’s account of its history, John developed the idea of buying a car wash in 2011, when Andrew was 21. The business began taking shape around 2012 and opened its first location in 2013.
John’s son Thomas D’Eri, who had recently completed business school, joined the effort with his parents. Together, they acquired a struggling car wash and began developing systems that could make expectations clear and help employees succeed.
The goal extended beyond creating one position for Andrew. The family wanted to build a viable company that could employ other adults who were encountering similar barriers.
Why a car wash made sense
Car washing involves detailed, repeatable processes and produces an immediate, visible result. Those features can suit workers who value structure and precision, although autistic people have varied strengths, preferences and support needs.
Rising Tide built its training around clear procedures rather than assuming every new employee would learn best through conventional instruction. Its careers page says prospective employees receive structured, practical training and must demonstrate accuracy before beginning regular shifts.
The approach is not charity presented as employment. Workers perform real jobs inside a business that must satisfy customers and operate successfully.
A 2024 NACS Magazine profile reported that the original car wash had handled about 35,000 vehicles per year before the D’Eri family bought it. Under Rising Tide, that figure had grown to more than 170,000 vehicles annually.
From one location to three
Rising Tide now operates in Parkland, Margate and Coral Springs, Florida. Its official website says more than 90 employees are autistic and that autistic professionals make up roughly 80 percent of its staff.
The company also says it has helped launch more than 250 careers. In May 2026, WPLG Local 10 reported that more than 250 former employees had gone on to find work elsewhere.
That movement matters because Rising Tide describes its role as an “on-ramp” to the wider workforce, not necessarily a final destination for every employee.
A job can provide much more than wages. It can offer routine, experience, references, friendships and proof that a worker can meet demanding standards. Those benefits are not unique to autistic people, but they can be especially important for someone who has repeatedly been denied a first opportunity.
- 2011John D’Eri develops the ideaConcerned about Andrew’s future after school, John considers acquiring a car wash that could employ autistic adults.
- 2012–2013The family builds and opens Rising TideJohn, Thomas and their family turn the idea into an operating South Florida business.
- By 2026Three locations employ more than 90 autistic adultsRising Tide operates in Parkland, Margate and Coral Springs and reports more than 250 careers launched.
- Late 2026A fourth location is plannedThe company lists a Pompano Beach site as coming soon.
Andrew remains part of the story
Andrew was the inspiration for the business, but the company’s growth has made its mission larger than one family.
Recent reporting shows him working alongside other employees and speaking about the parts of the job he enjoys, including earning money and talking with customers. His experience illustrates the original idea behind Rising Tide: the right environment can reveal abilities that conventional hiring practices may overlook.
That does not mean one workplace model will suit every autistic adult. Autism is a spectrum, and people differ widely in communication, sensory needs, interests and the support they require. Rising Tide’s story is valuable because it demonstrates one practical approach, not because it offers a universal answer.
A fourth location is on the way
Rising Tide’s website currently lists a fourth location at 2901 W. Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano Beach as “coming soon,” with a planned opening in late 2026.
The expansion will give the company another chance to test whether its systems can grow without losing the structure and sense of belonging that made the original model work.
For John D’Eri, the journey began with a deeply personal concern about his son’s adult life. The answer his family built has now reached far beyond Andrew.
Every clean car helps sustain a workplace. Every new employee gains the chance to demonstrate what résumés and conventional interviews often fail to show. And every person who moves on to another job carries that experience into a wider community that still has much to learn about autistic talent.