Meet Mary Ann LaRoche | Executive Director/Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mary Ann LaRoche and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mary Ann, every day, we know how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
As the sibling of someone with autism, it was always on my heart to try and come up with something that would help my brother Paul find his voice and a path through the difficult ability to connect with others. It wasn’t that he couldn’t communicate, but that his style of communication left a disconnect with him and those he encountered. People can be cruel or disengaged when they don’t know the tools to interact with someone who is different, and it left a hole in my heart to watch Paul be enthusiastic to want to participate, while not having it reciprocated by others.

Paul and myself both enjoyed making things, creating, and he would spend hours researching how to build train models, city scapes, and would create his own towns that didn’t need people in them. I myself became a blacksmith artist, and discovered the world and work to make one of a kind home and garden items for contractors and designers in the community. It made me realize that art and creating things can actually make a living and had a strong connection to the community who would want to buy these items.

Taking these skills and confidence helped me finally find the courage to create the space for a learning environment for those like my brother who could create and connect with their communities while continuing to learn life, social and job skills. The program is structured to be a catalyst for those who still may not understand autism, but can now see the beauty, potential and abiliites while also being able to purchase items created by students in the program, and support those who attend, SEEDs for Autism, a local Phoenix based nonprofit organization.

This program is life changing, as it helps 100s of youth and adults build their self-esteem, learn job skills, and create beautiful items. The program is always looking for ways to connect with the community, educate them on the uniqueness of autism, and build more job training opportunities.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
As a creator and business leader, educator, taking risks is the one thing that absolutely sets me apart from others. I am a dreamer, and mentor. I love seeing others find themselves going from doubting themselves to finding themselves. I love being a cheerleader, and SEEDs for Autism is the absolute best thing I have ever done with my life. Having struggled myself with so much doubt, and finding strength in God, believing that I could ask others to help me find my way and my husband Randy cheering me on, it just finally helped me dig in and start the journey. It really does take encouragement when the goal is new, seems hard, and out of reach/reality. Doing anything big takes a lot of courage, because it is absolutely NOT EASY! There are so many road blocks, obstacles, negative daunting reasons to quit. It isn’t comfortable by any means, so you really do need to have faith, big gigantic faith, and the tenacity to push through. And you have to just ask others for help and not be ashamed or scared to do that. Not everyone will help, many people will actually get in your way, so you have to pass those people by, not listen to their negativity, and find other people who will be your champions, your cheerleaders. Because when you dive into something like owning a business, it is going to take A LOT of time, trial and errors, financial investments, and heartache. So when you start doubting, it spirals into all kinds of reasons why you should give up.
I think this job is absolutely the hardest thing I have ever done, and it is NEVER easy. Every day, even after 15 years, I find myself faced with extreme frustration, problems, and decisions that have to be made. It takes a lot of growth and the ability to be driven. When you do something like this, you have to remember you are dealing with all kinds of people, and they have different problems, personalities, needs, and want to be heard and validated. People skills are the most important thing, and working with people with autism is not their strength to communicate sometimes. They don’t know how to face their fears, express themselves, and those around them don’t always know how to do the same. It is paralyzing when communication can’t be found to make the connections. My brother and I had a very special bond, and he taught me so much about life, people, being patient, kind, and that words didn’t have to be used to understand one another.
I want people to know my story is about impacting others, helping connect people to bring out the best in each person. I want people to know how special my brother was, how great autism can be, and how beautiful the world is when you take the time to cheer others on. SEEDs for Autism is a phenomenal place. When you walk in, you see people learning, growing, sharing, coping, trying new things, building their self-esteem, and contributing. The program teaches everyone who comes into contact with it, and that is my purpose. It is about people getting a chance, being given a chance, and gaining new experiences. Students are learning from some pretty great mentors on how to cook, clean, create, market the items they make, use tools, create art/graphics, garden, eat healthier, and build purposeful home and garden items for their community to buy for themselves or as gifts.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, I would take them to SEEDs Garden of Treasures for shopping WHEN it is finally open, and to Pauls Coffee Express when it too is open. Currently, I think there are so many places, it depends on what they want to do….hike, art, eat? I would take them on a short hike near the Phoenix Zoo and Botanical Gardens if the weather permitted, and I would take them for Navajo Tacos at the Indian Fried Bread House.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Jessica McCann, a local author and parent of a SEEDs for Autism participant

Website: https://www.seedsforautism.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SEEDSforAutism/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SEEDSforAutism