From Tie-Dye Blanks to Inclusion: How My Daughter Inspired Color Me Included
Share
From Tie-Dye Blanks to Inclusion: How My Daughter Inspired Color Me Included
In 2021, everything changed for me—twice.
That was the year I became a mother for the fourth time, and the year I launched a business that took off faster than I ever imagined. What started as a creative idea quickly became something big. My first business, Sublimation Tie Dye Blanks, grew rapidly and gained a loyal customer base almost overnight. I was working day and night, fulfilling orders, connecting with other makers, and riding the wave of growth. It was exciting, overwhelming, and beautiful.
But life has a way of guiding us toward what really matters.
My Daughter Became My Why
Shortly after her birth, my daughter began showing signs that she needed me in a much deeper, more present way. I made the decision to step away from the business I had built so quickly—before I even had answers—because I knew in my heart she needed me first.
Eventually, she was diagnosed with autism. That moment redefined everything. Not just as a mother, but as a businesswoman. I knew that when I came back, it wouldn’t be to the same business. It couldn’t be.
Introducing: Color Me Included
After taking time off to be home with my daughter, support her through therapies, routines, and daily life—I returned to my roots with a new mission.
That’s when Color Me Included was born.
This isn’t just a rebrand. It’s a rebuild with purpose. Inspired by my daughter, created for families like ours, and driven by the belief that inclusion should never be optional.
Why It Matters So Much
Traditional jobs aren’t accessible for many caregivers, especially those raising children with special needs. I can’t clock in or commute—I need to be here. But I still need to provide. I still need to create. And I still need to be heard.
Color Me Included is my way of doing all three.
Through tie-dye clothing, sensory-friendly products, and now Gestalt Learning Processor tools, I get to stay home with my daughter while supporting other families just like mine.
This business is not just how I survive—it’s how I advocate, how I connect, and how I shine light on the magic that comes with neurodiversity.
From Big Beginnings to a Bigger Purpose
What started as a booming blank shirt business has now become a brand built on advocacy, love, and real-life experience. Every swirl of color, every phrase in a coloring book, and every visual card is a piece of our story—and maybe yours too.
Thank you for growing with me.
Thank you for believing in inclusion.
Thank you for coloring outside the lines.
💛
Melissa, Founder of Color Me Included