Smoothie Shop Gives Jobs To Those With Special Needs
When Maryland mom, Monique Sotomarino, realized there wasn’t a judgment-free place for her three children with special needs to go, she decided to make one. According to Sunny Skyz,the veteran real estate agent started That Smoothie Place, a social enterprise aimed at providing employment and internships to individuals with special needs.
Working with the Montgomery County Public Schools, That Smoothie Place offers internships and jobs to people, regardless of their abilities. ”I didn’t want to focus just on higher functioning individuals,” Sotomarino explains, “But individuals of all abilities and give them their opportunity to try this place out.” Knowing the limitations of some of her staff, they provide entertainment at tables to occupy customers during potentially longer service times. “I love to see families come in and put down their phones and actually focus on the games,” she shares.
Sotomarino hopes to expand That Smoothie Place to other cities and partner with more school districts in the future. She thinks the business can provide a learning opportunity for the staff as well as the customers, and she wants to normalize seeing people with special needs as part of the workforce.
Source: Sunny Skyz
