What We Do

Xceptional Opportunities (XO) is a small 501(c)(3) Maryland corporation located in Montgomery County Maryland that provides vocational training and hands-on work experiences for adults with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). XO was founded in 2018 by two families, each with a son with I/DD, who had experienced first hand the challenges that adults with learning differences have in finding and keeping meaningful, competitive employment in the general job market. Unfortunately, this experience is all too common, resulting in significant levels of unemployment and underemployment within this population and much of their time spent idle or unproductive. Our belief is that the opportunity to work provides purpose and that with the right support, everyone has the ability to make a meaningful contribution to their community.


The mission of XO is to identify and foster meaningful vocational and employment opportunities for adults with Autism and other learning differences. This is achieved through small business initiatives that provide a supportive and integrated environment where all team members are valued and respected. Our aim is for each business initiative to be self-sustaining where every member of the team contributes to and is accountable for its success. 

The first business initiative is Xceptional Snacks (XS).  Founded in 2018, XS is a local provider of high-quality vending services in Montgomery County, MD. Team members receive vocational training and hands-on experience with all aspects of the vending business including managing and purchasing inventory, stocking vending machines at customer sites, providing customer service, sorting and counting money, recording/documenting service, making bank deposits, and tracking/reporting company profits. Soft skill development, such as accountability, collaboration, and communication, essential skills for any occupation, are also a natural outcome of this program.



Xceptional Opportunities’ second initiative is Xceptional Care Farming. In 2023, the Board of Directors, in discussion with Red Wiggler Farm and the Care Farming Network, identified the need for additional programs that provide hands-on vocational training and job skills development in the agricultural/farming field. As a result of those discussions, XO founded Xceptional Care Farming, which runs out of a small donated farm space in the Brookeville area. Care Farming is defined as the therapeutic use of farming practices for marginalized or underserved groups of people, such as individuals with I/DD or Autism. Care Farming includes a wide variety of farm-related activities such as gardening, orchards, and animal husbandry. The benefits of Care Farming include building self confidence, encouraging physical activity, fostering collaboration and teamwork, creating inclusive communities, and reducing stress, as well as providing an avenue to future job opportunities through vocational training. Care Farming also addresses the underemployment of individuals with I/DD and/or Autism.