How 1 Autistic Young Man Runs a Business

How 1 Autistic Young Man Runs a Business

By Nancy Shute Nancy Shute Fri Apr 3, 12:46 pm ET
Joe Steffy is off to Overland Park, Kan., this week to do a PowerPoint presentation on his business, Poppin' Joe's Kettle Korn. He's a 23-year-old small-business man with a goal of $100,000 in sales by 2012. Joe also has autism and Down syndrome and is nonverbal. When he gives his talk, he will push buttons on an augmentative speech device to deliver the words. His audience will be parents who fervently hope their own special-needs children will be able to work, too.

If the business stays on track, it should be grossing more than $100,000 in three years, and the Steffys are seeking a business partner who can work with Joe to manage the business. Joe is no longer on Social Security disability payments; instead, he pays state sales tax and state and federal income tax. He rents his own house and is helped by caregivers who are paid by a state program.

Wow! What a great success story.

Comments

And they let him pay taxes? The state could pay him, since he's creating job opportunities. What an inspiration.
 
YAYYYY!!!

That is so awesome.

One of the little boys in my son's class is autistic and nonverbal, but he's so sweet and so smart. His parents shower him with love and have spent so long trying to get him the best treatment. I hope he can have the measure of success that this young man has had.

I really hope that all this awareness makes it easier for people with autism spectrum disorders live good lives rather than tries to make them not autistic. I live with two people on the spectrum and I couldn't imagine loving 2 people more than I love them.
 

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Principessa
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