Custom Gear, Real Impact: How HB Threads Prioritizes Neurodivergent Employment

Family can be the cornerstone for many disabled individuals. From receiving varying forms of support, to helping guide people through different stages of their life, family can be crucial for overcoming different obstacles and barriers. And for the Engnells, family meant establishing a business for their son which continues to serve the Chicago region today.

Harry’s Buttons and Threads (HB Threads) was started by Harry Sr. and Marilyn Engnell to help their autistic son, Harry Engnell Jr., find employment after high school. The first iteration of HB Threads focused exclusively on custom buttons that customers could purchase. After donating the store to Easterseals Chicagoland and Greater Rockford, the business was transformed to hire neurodivergent individuals as they sell a variety of handmade, custom apparel. 

Rachel Gibson: The Heat Press Master

Teamwork is a core theme for employees at HB Threads. Every job requires teamwork from every individual to ensure that each product is made expertly. And for employee Rachel Gibson, teamwork is one of the best aspects of her job.

From cleaning the store, to sanitizing merchandise, Gibson handles numerous operations within the business. Yet, coworkers frequently call on her skills to operate the heat press, dubbing her the “Heat Press Master.” With temperatures reaching 360°F, Gibson carefully imprints different graphics onto shirts and sweatshirts. “It gets so hot like an oven,” she said.

Gibson’s expertise with the heat press helped her to fulfill a substantial order for the Rockford IceHogs, a professional ice hockey team from Rockford, Illinois. According to Gibson, she pressed patterns into 110 shirts and 110 shorts for the team. Heat pressing requires immense precision, ensuring that each graphic is uniform in position and size across an order. Her extracurricular activities, namely jujitsu, help her maintain her level of composure and dedication when performing this essential job. While she prefers to remain humble, her colleagues are always impressed by her attention to detail and patience when operating the machine.

Working at HB Threads provides a sense of belonging. It’s a place where disabled employees can comfortably and confidently do work that is not only satisfying, but impactful to surrounding communities. And for disabled employees nervous about entering the workforce, Gibson has strong words of encouragement.

“Don’t worry about your disability,” she said. “Just be [like everybody else]. You must be confident and get your skills stronger.”

Carter Sanders: From the Special Olympics to Pop-Up Shops

Carter Sanders is no stranger to Easterseals and the services they provide. As a former student of Easterseals Chicago Academy (a school at Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Great Rockford), Sanders was afforded an opportunity to work at the front desk of the school through their post-secondary program. This experience gave him lifelong skills, particularly in customer service, which he currently uses today at HB Threads.

Like Gibson, Sanders’ extracurricular activities give him crucial lessons in dedication and perseverance. Sanders notes that he has numerous medals, including gold medals, in local and statewide sport competitions like basketball, skiing, track and field, and bowling. He also participated in the Special Olympics Hawaii Bocce Invitational in 2023. These competitions instilled in him the importance of teamwork, something he uses every day at HB Threads.

“Each day varies depending on what projects are due and which projects are currently in production,” Sanders said. “The things I do range from me making buttons, making shirts by heat pressing graphics on them, as well as other apparel, whether it’s Easterseals or other clients affiliated with us. I also do inventory and input data on invoices.”

Sanders also enjoys the pop-up shops that HB Threads runs, whether in the store or throughout the city of Chicago. Sanders notes that in April, he helped to work at pop-up shops within an autism conference in downtown Chicago. He also explains that several months later, in June, he worked at pop-up shops for a signature Easterseals golf outing in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. “I am very proud of giving back to the [disability] community and beyond.”

Giving back to his community is what drives Sanders. Whether through his customer service skills or by bringing a smile to people’s faces with the products he creates, Sanders loves keeping busy, and most importantly, returning that love back into his community. “[Working at HB Threads] helps me become a valuable member of society. Through my work ethic, I have gained universal respect from people within the Easterseals community.”

More Than a Paycheck: The Community Impact of Employment

Having a job isn’t simply about earning a living—it’s about fostering and maintaining a community. Regardless of occupation, life skills like teamwork and patience are learned through performing each job. With Gibson and Sanders, these learned experiences are the foundation of HB Threads’ community impact.

For Cody Wass, Assistant Director of HB Threads, Gibson’s and Sanders’ work ethic is proof that disabled people belong in our communities. With every button, shirt, or hat purchased, the Chicago region, and the greater Easterseals community, is supporting disabled individuals. And for Wass, that’s the ultimate goal—giving a safe space for disabled individuals to feel confident in their work.

“Our employees are the heartbeat of our business,” Wass said. “Their incredible attention to detail, creativity, and excitement to be part of a team is what makes HB Threads truly one of a kind. When you place an order for apparel or customized merchandise at HB Threads, you’re not only getting a high-quality product and competitive price, you’re creating more employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.”