Coffee
fromABC7 Los Angeles
5 hours ago'Holy Grounds Coffee' employs adults with special needs in South Jersey
Holy Grounds Coffee employs adults with special needs to roast, package, and sell branded coffee locally and online.
Bethany Scott-Wright desperately wanted to work but the odds were stacked against her. The 22-year-old from Bromley has autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) a behavioural condition marked by frequent temper outbursts, defiance and hostility, particularly toward authority figures like teachers and bosses. In the UK, people with learning difficulties and disabilities face the highest unemployment rate of any group a staggering 95 per cent, according to the British Association for Supported Employment.
But he hasn't had consistent employment since before the pandemic. As he gears up to start his new job at Judy's Beach Cafe, he says looking forward to it. "It feels very nice," Ryan said. "I can be myself like a Down syndrome person." Ryan's mom, Elyn Smith, says helping her son find a job has been tough, particularly given that people with special needs often struggle when it comes to the employment sector.