A micro-enterprise for all abilities | Mary Beth Connors | TEDxOshkosh

Quick Overview

Mary Beth Connors highlights how her organization, Brewing Futures, successfully integrated students with disabilities, like her daughter Erin who has Down syndrome, into meaningful employment through micro-enterprises such as a mobile coffee truck, proving that with the right support and inclusive environments, these individuals can achieve independence and contribute significantly to the workforce.

Key Points: Brewing Futures' mission is coaching abilities for employment, specifically supporting individuals with disabilities like Down syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and learning challenges. The organization runs micro-enterprises, including a mobile coffee shop called 'Brewing Futures: Cafe & Mobile Eats,' to provide authentic work experiences. The speaker's daughter, Erin Connors, who has Down syndrome, has worked at the coffee business for five years and is now handling full-time responsibilities, proving her capability. According to the US Department of Labor (August 2020 report), 8.8% of adults with disabilities are employed, which the speaker argues represents a huge untapped potential. The key to success is creating inclusive environments and implementing simple 'tweaks' or accommodations that allow students to overcome barriers to employment and community living. The student worker (Erin's peer) who was initially afraid to work the cash register is now employed full-time, receives benefits, and is thriving in the community.

Context: Mary Beth Connors delivers a TEDxOshkosh talk focusing on the importance of creating employment opportunities and inclusive workplaces for individuals with disabilities. She frames her discussion around her personal experience raising a daughter, Erin, who has Down syndrome, and how her organization, Brewing Futures, works to bridge the gap between education and adult employment for these individuals through hands-on micro-enterprise experiences.

Detailed Analysis

Mary Beth Connors discusses the necessity of shifting perspectives regarding individuals with disabilities to see their capabilities, rather than their limitations. She shares the story of her daughter, Erin, who has Down syndrome, and how parents often worry about the future, but that the journey for her daughter led to fulfilling employment. Connors notes that she worked in the same school district her daughter attended, and the dream of independent living, community employment, and self-sufficiency is what drives their work. She highlights that 1 in 8.8 adults with disabilities are employed (citing a USDOL report from August 2020), indicating massive untapped potential. Brewing Futures, her organization, aims to bridge this gap by running micro-enterprises, like their coffee truck, to provide authentic work experiences. Connors shares the story of a visually impaired student who, despite initial anxiety about using the register at the coffee shop, eventually thrived and now works there full-time, receiving benefits. This success demonstrates that simple accommodations and inclusive workplaces allow these individuals to achieve success and contribute to the workforce, proving that the educational system must listen and create paths for community employment and independence.