When Kristen Bland heard from fellow parents in the special-needs community that their kids wanted jobs but couldn’t find them, she made it her mission to train and employ them.
Five-year-old Avery Bland may not be able to express herself in a typical way, but when the youngster rolls into her new namesake teahouse in Loveland, it’s clear that she’s pretty darn happy.
His mom, Michelle Diaz, said he’s excelling in his new role. “This has been a dream of ours that we weren’t sure would come to fruition. When I picked him up , he said, ‘I feel independent, mom, and I feel super proud of me.’ That was it, that’s all I needed to hear. He loves to give back, and this is another way for him to give back to his community. We see more of a future for him now, and we’re excited to see where this opportunity takes him.
Diaz and the teahouse’s six other IDD employees are paired with workers with more traditional experience. The menu and set-up are designed to be doable for all the workers, so the food is grab-and-go, the teahouse is cashless, and the prep for the coffees and teas is fairly straightforward. But that doesn’t mean that the menu isn’t great tasting. Bland hand-picked all 13 teas, being sure to include a mix of teas for both avid tea drinkers and people wanting to try something fun.
While the teahouse’s young namesake may not be able to speak her approval, she’s clearly loving the space created for people like her. “Any time you go in the teahouse, there’s a parent of a special-needs child, there’s a special-needs child, there are wheelchairs everywhere like Avery’s, there are kids just like Avery squealing,” Bland said. “She goes in there and she’s so happy. It’s been really special.
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