Starting from Scratch

Working inside a bakery is a sweet gig for Joseph Shephard.

The 24-year-old autistic man refers to himself as a jack-of-all-trades. He washes dishes, decorates cupcakes, places cupcakes in containers, and mops floors.

Without question, though, his favorite part of the job is interacting with customers.

“I’m very good when it comes to customer services,” he says excitedly. “Some customers come here just to see me.”

Those words are music to the ears of Chris and Chantelle Deane, owners of Cupcakes for Autism. Their Lady Lake-based bakery employs adults with autism and other disabilities and helps them develop much-needed job-readiness and socialization skills. The Deanes have two autistic children of their own: Christopher Jr., 4, and Cameron, 2.

“Once they turn 18, they no longer receive the specialized help and therapies they’ve had most of their lives,” says Chantelle, who formerly owned a bakery in Miami. “The biggest problem for adults with autism is their lack of socialization skills. That makes it hard for them to find jobs in the real world.”

The Deanes opened the bakery last October. In addition to offering employment, they also formed a nonprofit organization that serves two purposes: pairing autistic adults with mentors and providing weekly social outings such as dinners, mini-golf, and movie nights. A portion of the company’s profits is used to self-fund their organization.

“There are many autism organizations out there, but you never know where the money goes. Our goal is to keep the money local,” Chantelle says. “Having mentors allows them to properly communicate and express their feelings. And having social outings teaches them to develop friendships with like-minded individuals.”

The program has certainly been beneficial for Skyler Skaggs, a 19-year-old high school dropout who is bipolar. She mans the bakery counter and takes customer orders, a momentous feat for someone who formerly shied away from any type of social interaction.

“I used to have a stuttering problem and was embarrassed by that,” she says. “But now I’m facing my fears by communicating with people. I feel much more confident.”

Sam Gerow, 18, is also gaining valuable workforce skills. The autistic teen never held a job before becoming employed by Cupcakes for Autism.

“It’s a lot of fun to come here and be part of a team. My favorite part of the job is selling cupcakes and cookies and getting to meet the customers.”

For the Deanes, seeing these adults come to their bakery and develop newfound confidence is icing on the cake.

“They approach me daily and thank me for the opportunity they’re being provided,” Chantelle says. “Seeing them change right before my eyes is astounding.”

Cupcakes for Autism is at 13769 N. U.S. Highway 441 in Lady Lake. The bakery is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday – Friday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

PHOTO: Fred Lopez