This guest post is by Katie Manhart, Executive Director of Lucky Ones Coffee in Utah. Katie is applying for our Supporting Small Businesses That Hire People With Disabilities Grant Opportunity ran by my nonprofit KFM Making A Difference. You can learn more about the grant opportunity here.
I hope you can support my nonprofit like I’m trying to support our community. I also produce educational videos to celebrate neurodiversity by spotlighting individuals impacted by a diagnosis. Learn more on how you can help our cause with a small donation (just asking for $3 today, equal to your daily cup of coffee) here.
Lucky Ones Coffee is on a mission to employ and empower individuals with disabilities. We have created a space that highlights ability over disability everyday. Our shop creates space in the community for people of all abilities and sparks conversations. We personalize all of our job opportunities to the individuals we hire.
Community facing opportunities like Lucky Ones Coffee are so important. It gives people the chance to witness the strengths that neurodiversity brings to the work place. Jobs are an important piece to our mental health as well, having a place that you can continue to learn, grow and excel.
One of my favorite success stories, one of our employees Porter has worked at Lucky Ones since we opened. He is a hard worker, always early to his shift and strives to learn new task. A customer came into the shop and witnessed this work ethic. They approached me and asked if Porter would be looking for any additional work. They had been struggling to hire a delivery driver for their bakery business, had people who would be late or not show up. Porter has now been working with this bakery for over 3 years. They have promoted him and added additional responsibilities. He is a valued member of their team. We have seen again and again that creating space and sparking conversation helps to move the dial on employing neurodiverse individuals. This is why at Lucky Ones Coffee we strongly support National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Bringing attention to this movement will help business owners recognize the value that neurodiversity brings to the workforce.
Follow my journey on Facebook, my Facebook Fan Page, & Instagram!
Kerry Magro, a professional speaker and best-selling author who is also on the autism spectrum started the nonprofit KFM Making a Difference in 2011 to help students with autism receive scholarship aid to pursue a post-secondary education.
Have Kerry, one of the only professionally accredited speakers on the spectrum in the country, speak at your next event by sending him an inquiry here. If you have a referral for someone who many want him to speak please reach out as well! Kerry speaks with schools, businesses, government agencies, colleges, nonprofit organizations, parent groups and other special events on topics ranging from employment, how to succeed in college with a learning disability, internal communication, living with autism, bullying prevention, social media best practices, innovation, presentation best practices and much more!
