We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zofia Perez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zofia below and some additionally shared insights by her mom.

Zofia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Hello. My name is Zofia and I’m 19 years old. I’m an entrepreneur. I am autistic and I was born with Down syndrome. I live in Florida with my family and my older brother lives at his house. I love how God made me. He made me a sensory expert which gave me the BIG IDEA to start a business with my family, MySensoryArt.com, where we make Sensory Wands to help people with stress and anxiety. I do too. I want to share my story with new people in new places. My dream is to travel around the world and stay in nice hotels and jump in their pools. Our business makes Sensory Wands for people all over the world, even for my friend Shawn Smith in Canada who tells me ‘being awesome is not easy.’ Making Sensory Wands is a way for me to  #ShareHappy with everyone. A meaningful project for me is starting a YouTube (YT) Channel in March of last year (2021), Zofia’s Sensory Spin, with my younger sister, Jemma. My sister is awesome and gives me hugs. We are like Teddy and Charlie in Disney’s ‘Good Luck, Charlie’ show. My channel unboxes toys and products and shares tips, tricks, and DIY videos that are fun for lots of people, especially people like me. It’s a sensory thing! My YT channel is meaningful to me because it’s another way to tell people about Sensory Wands and I get to invite guests like my friend, Michael, and my brother, Dylan. One of my favorite episodes is when we did the Orbeez Game Challenge and we had to beat the timer and I got to feel the Orbeez on my hand. My other favorite episode was the Unicorn Ride-On Floatie because I love the pool. One episode I watch over and over again is the one by my friend Dr. Jennie Trocchio who tells everyone why my Sensory Wands are so important. My videos are exciting to make and watch. Some sensory toys that I like most are my Sensory Wands, my orange diving squid for the pool, and my paddle ball game. Other YouTubers I like watching are Ryan’s World and the his episode about the dunk tank challenge. At the end of each episode, I get to say ‘Hit that notification bell to become a subscriber!’ I love saying that! I have 137 subscribers so far. I want my YT fans to know that I think they are awesome!

Zofia, we love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

[Zofia’s mom shares this portion] My Sensory Art is the realization of Zofia, a visionary woman who benefits from sensory supports to help regulate and calm her body and mind. This uniqueness gives Zofia a special way of perceiving the world. Her small business is a viable work option utilizing PicEin Works™ proprietary model of ‘Person-Ventured Entrepreneurship,’ a business concept that seeks to find one person, one job based on their passions and interests. MySensoryArt.com is a family-run small business launched in 2018 in South Florida supporting Zofia’s right, as a person with a disability, to learn more about meaningful employment, as well as the empowerment that comes from her being able to choose work that most fulfills her. Zofia receives support from her family, friends, and Business Support Team (BST) members to run her business, each playing a valuable and shared role in Zofia’s success. Zofia’s business developed slowly over several years shaped around Zofia’s sensory passions and creative interests as an artisan. It is a simple business model focused on Zofia’s continued growth and integration into the community as an entrepreneur and self-advocate. MySensoryArt.com and YouTube Channel Zofia’s Sensory Spin are fully driven by Zofia’s desire to #SHAREHAPPY with people like her who experiencing sensory challenges, stress, and anxiety by innovating and introducing into the marketplace a multi-sensory object that encourages immersive experiences by users who need greater therapeutic interventions to busy their hands and free their minds. Zofia’s Sensory Wands are specifically designed for sensory seekers who favor intense, fast, and thrill-seeking activities. Society better understands Zofia’s Sensory Wands as a therapeutically necessary sensory supportive device as up to 95% of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder report some atypical sensory behavior in their child. Sensory processing is simply the way we interact with the world with our senses and the way our nervous system interprets it and turns it into responses. Zofia’s Sensory Wands address numerous sensory needs all at the same time.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

[Zofia’s mom shares this portion] Everyone tells their story differently. Zofia tells her story visually and verbally through videos her sister designs and produces and posts on all our social media pages. Because we are a family-run small business, we share stories about our family and the roles we play in the business and adventures we have together because it helps tell Zofia’s #jobcreators story the best so others following our journey learn how they can help their child pursue their own employment dreams as well.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

[Zofia’s mom shares this portion] There are a number of great books written on the subject of self-employment; however, one that greatly assisted us to shape a business around Zofia’s interests was ‘Making Self-Employment Work for People with Disabilities’ by Cary Griffin, David Hammis, Beth Keeton, and Molly Sullivan (available at Amazon). We’ve also learned a great deal by following other entrepreneurs with disabilities, like John’s Crazy Socks, Doggy Delights by Allison, and Group Hug Apparel by Andrew Banar, among many others.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mysensoryart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysensoryart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MySensoryArt
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/my-sensory-art-by-zofia/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mysensoryart
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ZofiasSensorySpin

Image Credits
Courtney Colliflower Ortiz, Gladys Garcia at Birth Hour Photography