The story of Ella & Bella Pet Company begins the way so many meaningful things do, with love, and with waiting.
For years, we watched and hoped. We hoped the landscape of employment would shift. We hoped the world would recognize the immense value and talent held by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. But as our daughter Eleanor approached her 19th birthday and the end of her high school years, the reality of what many families call “the cliff” came into sharp focus.
With only 19% of adults with intellectual disabilities currently employed, we realized that waiting for change wasn’t enough. To ensure a future of dignity and purpose for Eleanor, and for others like her, we decided to stop waiting and start building.
