Small business in Campbell provides support for individuals with disabilities

In Campbell, California, a unique business is making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Turtleworks, founded in 2020 by Sherry Meng, provides custom embroidery services while also offering job opportunities for adults with special needs.

The business, located on West Campbell Avenue, partners with local school districts to recruit individuals with disabilities to help with orders. These individuals are paid by the school districts for their time and are trained to perform various tasks, such as loading embroidery hoops and packaging orders.

One of the interns, Maya Rumale, a senior with special needs from Monta Vista High School, shared her positive experience working at Turtleworks. She mentioned that the job doesn’t feel like work because she enjoys it so much and appreciates the supportive environment.

Sherry Meng, the owner of Turtleworks, left her job as a Silicon Valley engineer in 2009 to care for her children, one of whom is autistic. She started volunteering with a nonprofit that helps individuals with special needs and eventually decided to open Turtleworks to provide job skills training opportunities for this community.

Despite facing challenges during the pandemic, Meng persevered and learned how to operate the embroidery machines to keep the business running. Today, Turtleworks has completed hundreds of orders and continues to provide valuable work opportunities for young adults with special needs.

Customers like Kristi Saso, president of Pro-Sweep, have praised Meng for her dedication to supporting individuals with disabilities and providing them with valuable skills for the future. Turtleworks is not just a business but a beacon of hope and opportunity for those who often face barriers in the workforce.