Bismarck parents buy coffee house for son’s future

by Karee Magee from The Bismark Tribune:
Sandy and Matt McMerty, like most parents, believe in setting the bar high for their three children in order to see them succeed. But for the McMertys, that meant buying a coffee shop in the Bismarck Public Library for their eldest son.
When Cristian McMerty, 13, was born with Down syndrome, the McMertys wanted to find a way for their son to succeed in life instead of being limited.
“You can set the bar low and reach it, but that’s a lot worse than setting the bar high and giving a person the chance to reach it,” said Sandy McMerty, marketing communication manager at the Department of Commerce.
After stumbling across Tim’s Place in Albuquerque, N.M., the McMertys were inspired.
Tim’s Place is a successful restaurant owned and operated by Tim Harris, a man with Down syndrome, where the slogan is “comfort, food, and hugs.”
“We thought, wouldn’t it be great if we had some type of business we could all run together,” said Matt McMerty, owner of a record management company, Docustore.
Years after deciding on what the McMertys call their “big dream,” they opened The Gifted Bean Coffee House.
The McMertys said they are hoping that if the coffee house works out, Cristian will be able to take over the business.
His parents said that he already wants to start.
“He keeps telling his teachers he can’t come to school today because he has to work,” Matt McMerty said.
The McMertys began speaking with the previous owner at the end of August.
Matt McMerty said he thought it would take about two years before they could purchase the business, but the owner wanted to sell immediately.

employment at Poppin Joes makes life meaningful

from The Capital Journal by Andy Marso:

When school officials told Ray Steffy his son Joe would never be able to hold down a job because of his autism and Down syndrome, the elder Steffy got mad. Then he went into action.

"I was just determined to prove to them he could work," Steffy said.

Joe is now 26. He not only works, he creates work for others. With the help of his father and mother, Janet, Joe started Poppin' Joe's — a kettle corn business that grossed $60,000 last year and has seven part-time employees.

The Steffy family came from Louisburg to Topeka's Capitol Plaza Hotel on Wednesday to tell the story of Poppin' Joe's as part of a two-day conference for people with disabilities and their advocates.

The Employment First Summit follows up on groundbreaking legislation signed by Gov. Sam Brownback this past May that requires state programs and services to promote the employment of Kansans with disabilities.

The administration's focus on employment drew praise the day before from a panel of advocates who were otherwise critical of the governor because of his proposed Medicaid reform. Brownback himself opened the conference Wednesday morning by briefly addressing the overflow crowd of several hundred attendees.

Brownback was followed by David Hoff, of the Institute for Community Inclusion in Boston.

"We need to make sure this legislation is not just empty words," Hoff said. "It's one thing to have a piece of legislation or policy. It's a whole other thing to implement it."

Hoff outlined a seven-point plan for realizing the goals of the new law, including funding jobs programs and shattering misconceptions among the disabled and their families that there is no work for them or they will lose government aid if they work.

Mickayla Fink, of the Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas, attended the conference. Fink, who is working with a grant through the federal Disability Employment Initiative, said she was eager to network with other advocates at the conference and share ideas.

Fink said part of her job in Wichita is obtaining assistive technology for the disabled to help them in the work force, such as hearing aids she was able to get for a hearing-impaired man.

Assistive technology also proved key for Joe Steffy, who is largely nonverbal and uses an electronic device to help him communicate. He also got assistance from Vocational Rehab and home- and community-based Medicaid services.

Ray Steffy said although he and his wife keep the books, Joe is the driving force behind Poppin' Joe's. The company makes five flavors of kettle corn, sells at carnivals and fairs, and has corporate clients, including financial powerhouse State Street.

By pushing a button on his DynaVox system, Joe told a roomful of people Wednesday about how his business has allowed him to live on his own, connect with members of his community and travel.

"Because I work," he said, "my life is full of meaningful adventures."

Andrew Banar insprires and motivates with Group Hug Apparel

from the Leamington Post by Pat Bailey:

He doesn’t wear a cape. He hasn’t rescued any damsels in distress — but Andrew Banar is a hero.
And fittingly, the 20-year-old entrepreneur officially earned that designation on World Down Syndrome Day, Wednesday, March 21.

But he doesn’t see himself as a hero.

“I just try to do nice things,” he said.

While the Cardinal Carter student was born with Down Syndrome, he has not let it hold him back. In fact, he has probably accomplished more than many of his peers.

Like starting his own business. Or maybe donating more than $8,000 to local charities. Or even making plans for a post-secondary education.

And that is where his dream began.

For Andrew the dream of going to college motivated him to look beyond any limits that may have been placed on him.

And with the help of an extremely supportive mom, Karen Pickle, Andrew was able to combine his artistic talent with his love of drumming which led to Group Hug Apparel.

His apparel company, which features his own designs and the catch phrase ‘Rock On’, has earned thousands of dollars in just two years in business — probably enough to pay for Andrew’s college education.

But in a selfless decision, Andrew decided to share his earnings with more than 10 different local charities.

“It’s important to give back to the community,” said Andrew, “because everyone needs help — and I like to help people.”

And help them he has.

He spends virtually every weekend at community events — hocking his wares and mingling with members of the community.

Andrew has become a familiar face to many and now a hero — one that puts a face, and especially a smile, to the Down Syndrome Society of Canada.

He and nine others were chosen from hundreds of entries to be one of the society’s heroes.

According to the Canadian Down Syndrome website, the heroes were chosen “to showcase the abilities and accomplishments of persons with Down Syndrome and encourage independence, self-advocacy and freedom for persons with Down Syndrome to make their own choices.”

They are recognized as “strong community leaders who make a difference in the lives of people with Down Syndrome”, it continued.

Andrew epitomizes the society’s definition of a hero.

His mom beams with pride when speaking of her son and his accomplishments — especially his latest, hero status.

“When you have a child with a disability,” she said, “you want them to have the best life possible, without needing to worry about all of life’s challenges.”

“You help them fulfill dreams and goals by working around their abilities,” she added, “and if that means changing things up so they can accomplish them and be a part of society like everyone else — then that is part of my job as being a mom.”

In many ways though, Andrew is a typical young adult — he loves playing the drums, playing Rock Band, watching movies, hanging out with family and friends and heading south for a little vacation.

“He is caring, thoughtful and has a spirit that I wish everyone in the world could see,” she said.
Thanks to his ambitious aspirations — many have already had that pleasure.

“He is my daily inspiration,” she said, “and keeps me focused.”