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.”