We Want Jobs! People With Autism Gather At Coliseum Kitchen

April is “Autism Awareness Month” and this past April 2nd was "World Autism Day". Coliseum Kitchen & Caterers, at 1660 Old Country Road in Plainview celebrated people with autism with a special luncheon. Coliseum Kitchen is an employer of several people with autism. "They deserve congratulations and recognition for their talents, abilities, and dedication, especially during April," Coliseum's proprietor John Murn explains. "My experience has been very good in recruiting people with autism and putting them to work in several of my restaurants and food service enterprises."

Murn is in the process of opening several Next Level Cafes in Long Island office/professional buildings. The first two are in East Hills and Melville. "These will be primarily staffed by people with autism...I call it food with a purpose". He is partnering with Life's WORC (www.lifesworc.org), based in Garden City, one of Long Island's largest non-profit organizations for people with autism and developmental disabilities.

Tom Wigginton, an experienced Executive Chef from Manhattan is now the Manager of the Next Level Cafes operation. He is impressed by the enthusiasm people with autism bring to their service jobs. He has developed their training program and sees their progress in learning work skills. “They are always on time, always attentive, and earnest in their desire to do quality work.”

Stephanie Zapata, 31, a Wantagh resident is a “case study”. She handles food prep tasks at Coliseum Kitchen. “I love my job…everything from scrambling eggs and bacon for French Toast…to putting together yogurt parfaits.” Stephanie plans on staying with this work well into her future.

Worldwide, there are an estimated 61.8M individuals with autism. On Long Island it is estimated that 17,000 children are touched by the autism spectrum.

Vanessa Rogan of Garden City, a parent and Life's WORC Chairperson describes how: "While so many government officials and community leaders are supportive of autism awareness and understand its impact----we need more small businesses like Coliseum Kitchen to step up and provide jobs for this population. If every employer could offer just one or several jobs, this would bring a major economic achievement. As a parent it is frustrating to see how many employers are reluctant to give people with autism an employment opportunity. About 85% of people with autism are unemployed or underemployed. People with autism are not seeking charity, they want employment as part of a true purpose to their day. Like everyone, people with autism want to feel self-worth that they have been constructive, that they have accomplished something.”