By Amy Brown –
On a typical day inside Industry Horror’s screen printing shop on Ventura Avenue, the hum of equipment mixes with laughter and the rhythm of people doing work that matters to them. The industrial space is festooned with an eye-popping combination of movie posters, cartoon art, disco balls, and mannequins. Here, garments are printed, stickers are cut, and unique horror noir-inspired designs come to life—but what’s being created here goes far beyond apparel.
Industry Horror is a Ventura-based nonprofit that provides job training and employment for autistic young adults, a population that faces staggering barriers in joining the workforce. It’s estimated that nearly 90% of autistic adults in the U.S. are unemployed or underemployed. Many age out of school-based services with few pathways forward.
For founders Ryan and Davina Decant, that reality is personal, and their path to nonprofit leadership was anything but traditional. Ryan spent years working as a special education aide and teacher while living in Bakersfield. His teaching focused on supporting students with special needs, but he began to see a troubling pattern after kids graduated.
“I kind of realized that my young students didn’t have jobs, so I wanted to bridge that gap,” he said. He had been experimenting with screen printing and art, and soon, what began as a small clothing project eventually became something much bigger.
Ryan started printing shirts out of their Oxnard garage in 2010, was soon hired to do screen printing work for a larger account and eventually began hiring interns through The Arc of Ventura County. “If it weren’t for Arc, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” said Davina. The Arc’s paid internship program pays the wages of its eligible interns for the first year. “It helped us gainfully employ them, and support that first year, because that’s honestly how long it takes to train them, for it fully to click,” said Davina.
Many of Industry Horror’s employees had no or limited job options before joining the company. Leon Simmonds is 23 and joined the team working in the screen printing shop three years ago, after walking into the Industry Horror store, hoping to escape a fast-food job he didn’t enjoy. “I really like working at a place that helps others. And the free t-shirts are one of my favorite perks of working here,” he said. “Plus, we’re planning a school with the profits we make, and that’s going to be great for the entire community.” Simmonds, who likes to build computers and attend music festivals in his spare time, hopes to complete a two-year certification in electrical work at the trade school.
Nathan Sprague is 33 and has worked in the print shop since 2018, and designed a popular t-shirt based on the Decants’ pets. “My design is a best seller, but really, I never dreamed I’d have a job where I can work, talk about movies, and have the chance to judge cornhole contests and help with car shows,” said Sprague, who has also created a podcast called Industry Horror Coffincast, where he reviews various horror movies.
Industry Horror’s ambitions extend beyond its current spaces. The nonprofit has submitted a proposal to develop a community-centered trade school on Ventura Avenue, offering autistic students’ hands-on skills and pathways to stable careers. The long-term goal is to keep education free, funded through grants, partnerships, and community support. “They have enough stuff they’re going to have to pay for throughout their life. I don’t feel education should be one of them,” Davina said. “We really just want to give back and take care of this community, especially The Avenue. The Avenue needs it.”
Industry Horror officially became a nonprofit in 2016. Every purchase at the current retail store on Main Street supports job training and long-term employment for the neurodivergent community. Davina, who continues to work full-time as a hairdresser, has been a steady force behind the scenes. “He works for free,” she said of her husband. “All Ryan’s time is volunteered, and I support our family at the salon. We could take paychecks, but that would be taking away two salaries that could go to our employees.”
Today, Industry Horror employs 11 people and has helped hundreds more through internships and transitional employment. Jenni Cravens is the store and operations manager and has been with the Decants since the very beginning, starting as a photographer for the clothing catalog. She appreciates the inclusive and nurturing work environment at the company, having worked for other less supportive organizations in the past.
“Being late-diagnosed autistic, I struggled with finding my voice in those companies. There can be disciplinary actions when your behavior doesn’t align with their guidelines. Things like sensory overloads, tick and stims – in certain corporate environments, those aren’t always accepted,” she said. “I’ve been written up for things like that. At Industry Horror, they meet us where we need to be met as individuals. If we’re having sensory issues, or hyper-fixating on certain things, they will first ask us what we need from them. I’ve never even had people like that in my life, much less an employer.”
Juliana Graves is a bubbly young retail sales associate at the store. “If I hadn’t gotten a job here, I probably never would have gotten a job anywhere,” she said. “This is a place where I feel accepted, and that’s very important to me.” She shared that her favorite thing learned in her role is customer service.
“Our superpower is catering to their abilities,” said Davina. “It’s always been people over profit. They’re so loyal, they’re so honest, and they always show up,” Davina said. “And they’re incredibly creative.” She adds with a laugh, “They’ll never lie. Whether you want to hear it or not.” Beyond humor, there’s conviction. “They should almost be a requirement in every workplace,” she said. “They bring so much goodness.”
Industry Horror stands as proof that with hard work and creativity, meaningful change doesn’t have to have grandiose origins. Sometimes, it starts in a garage.
