Business Boom

Entrepreneurs with disabilities follow their passions to profits.

By Lisa Danford

Paw-sitively Stylish

Morgan Godfrey loves her two dogs, Bailey and Charlie. They’re a constant inspiration for her business, Made by Morgan, which sells scrunchie-style dog bandanas.

Godfrey, 24, found her passion in sewing. Her mom, Jenny, likes making quilts and asked her daughter to sew with her. Quilts are big projects that require a lot of time. It was also getting expensive to buy all that fabric, Godfrey said, so her mom suggested a smaller project—making bandanas for Bailey and Charlie.

Godfrey launched Made By Morgan in October 2022, followed quickly by a series of craft shows. “I really wanted my own business, and I like doing craft shows.”

The bandanas come in a variety of fabrics—Cincinnati Bengals bandanas are particularly popular. They are scrunchiestyle, which means they have an elastic band to fit around the dog’s neck. That style also means the bandanas can fit every breed from a chihuahua to a Saint Bernard. She’s also made custom bandanas for potbelly pigs.

In addition to local shops, Morgan Godfrey frequently sells her dog bandanas at craft fairs. The Cincinnati Bengals dog bandana (below) is one of her best sellers.

“Morgan took her passion for dogs and her love of sewing, and combined them into something that makes her really happy and proud of herself,” Jenny said.

Godfrey loves sewing and built relationships with local business owners who sell her products in their shops. These include Just Brew and Pet Wants Cincy West, as well as groomers Dog Gone Beautiful and Pampered Pets.

“It makes me happy to see the dogs with their bandanas,” Godfrey said.

Made By Morgan also partnered with the local humane society, SPCA Cincinnati, to provide bandanas for the Adopt-a-Pet fund telethon in February and the Fur Ball gala in April.

Delightful Desserts

“She believed she could, so she did” is Maggie Neumann’s mantra. The 25-yearold always loved baking and now owns Maggie’s Marvelous Mini Cheesecakes. Her customers love the key lime flavor, but her favorites are chocolate peanut butter and mocha.

Neumann has spina bifida and dreamed of working in a bakery. “Most bakeries aren’t wheelchair accessible, so I did not know if I would ever be able to do that,” she said.

Neumann liked making brownies but started experimenting with baking in muffin tins during the pandemic. One of those experiments would become her signature item – a mini cheesecake. A former teacher tried her cheesecakes and loved them so much, she placed an order for a baby shower and Neumann’s dream became a reality.

Neumann and her mom, Michelle, launched the business in June 2020. From their home, equipped with a wheelchairaccessible counter, they’ve made more than 40,000 mini cheesecakes. “It’s gone better than we ever thought it would,” Michelle said. “We divide up the tasks. She’ll work on crusts and whipped cream on one station, and I’ll make the batter on another station.”

Maggie’s Marvelous Mini-Cheesecakes has eight standard flavors, as well as rotating monthly and seasonal flavors like peppermint bark for winter. They take custom orders and sell cheesecakes at local coffee shop Just Brew.

Keeping up with orders, especially during the holidays, is challenging, but Neumann loves interacting with customers and keeping track of expenses on spreadsheets.

They recently launched a website, started hiring interns who also have disabilities, and donate 20% of their sales to nonprofits. “I’m really proud of what I have been able to do,” Neumann said. “It keeps me motivated— always believe you can do more than you think you can.”

Artistic Ambition

Aaron Strait has a specific artistic style. His repetitive strokes perfectly capture the details on iconic structures like the Roebling Bridge.

“I am a great artist, historian and researcher,” he said. Strait, 31, grew up around art and developed his skills during high school. His mom, Dawn, who is also an artist, said her son “has a natural ability and a unique perspective.”

Strait, who has autism and apraxia, had trouble finding a job after high school.

“I was frustrated, so that’s when we started doing more with his artwork,” Dawn said. They created Aaron’s Art for Autism, with proceeds going to different disability programs around Cincinnati. Strait said painting feels “relaxing and calm.” He likes using acrylic to paint cityscapes, oceans, and trains at the holidays. “I love painting the different sizes and shapes that make up steam locomotives,” he said.

In addition to canvas artwork, Strait and his mom sell cards based on their paintings.

Sending Smiles

A bright blue peacock, with feathers on full display, pops against a whimsical background. It’s one of Jakob Sidney’s favorite drawings.

Sidney, 22, always loved sending and receiving cards. On a cold winter day in 2021, his mom, Jenn, suggested they make Valentine’s Day cards to pass time. “When Jakob was done, I laid them out on the table and thought, ‘there is something special here,’” she said.

She found a printer to make 200 sets, and they opened an online store. The first run sold out in less than two hours. A second order of 500 sets sold out in two days, and they launched his business: Cards by Jakob.

Sidney, who has autism, said he “loves helping send smiles.” His favorite part of the business is packing and shipping the cards, but he also likes keeping track of inventory. “His art is special, sweet, fun and whimsical,” Jenn said. “He works hard, and it’s important for people to understand that there is more to him than the eye can see.” He built a steady fan base online and through local art and craft fairs. “It makes me feel good,” Sidney said. “Your support fills my whole heart with indescribable purpose.” Recently, Cards by Jakob expanded into calendars, apparel and a children’s coloring book.

Find art, cards, cheesecakes, bandanas and more at Just Brew in Silverton, 6940 Plainfield Road.

All photos provided