A Long Island mom is changing perceptions about people with autism, one bag of coffee at a time.
Stacey Wohl's business, Our Coffee With a Cause in Northport, gives jobs to young adults with disabilities. Her star employees are her teenage children, Logan and Brittany, who both have autism and are nonverbal.
"Everybody needs to feel good about themselves, but children on the spectrum have less opportunities for that," Wohl said.
Wohl's 16-year-old son Logan labels coffee bags and does deliveries. Her 18-year-old daughter Brittany goes to trade shows to promote the brand. She uses an iPad to communicate with customers.
"Hi, my name is Brittany. Will you buy my coffee," the iPad says.
Wohl already employs five people and her coffee is for sale at Long Island stores. But she wants to continue to give more opportunities to people with autism.
"There is a place for them to go, no matter how disabled they are. There is a job for them," Wohl said.
Local
Wohl also hopes to show corporate America what Brittany, Logan and others like them can do.
"They say if that single mother with two autistic children can do this, and she can hire disabled people, why can't we hire disabled people? And then it becomes a movement."
