Realities Of Life For Adults With Autism (ASD)

by Kalliope Bessler

Despite the unique and varied capabilities that people with autism have, a large amount of people with autism in America have a difficult time finding work or being hired in workplaces that aren’t made specifically for people with disabilities. In 2017, the Drexel University A.J. Adrexel Autism Institute found that only 14% of adults ages 18-64 with autism spectrum disorder in America had a paid job in their community in a workplace that did not exclusively employ those with disabilities…

Rajiv KapurOctober 30, 2020autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD, adults with autism, autism and unemployment, service gaps

Gerry’s Café

by Kalliope Bessler

Disabled people in the United States experience disproportionately higher unemployment rates compared to abled people. Gerry’s Café of Arlington Heights, Illinois, is trying to change that. Natalie Griffin, a former Special Education teacher, and Amy Philpott, a businesswoman with a degree in Behavioral Science, are the co-founders of Gerry's Cafe. Their mission is to open a café that will “provide competitive employment for exceptional individuals with intellectual disabilities ages 22 and older. Geralyn Wehmer, the late aunt of Amy Philpott, who was born with Down Syndrome, is the cafe's namesake…

Sarah Bellum’s Bakery

by Kalliope Bessler

In 2017, Dr. Rik Lemoncello, an Associate Professor of Speech-Language Pathology at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, started Sarah Bellum’s bakery. Dr. Lemoncello’s mission for Sarah Bellum’s is to support adults with brain injuries by giving them a helping hand as they return to work and life after their brain injury…