LOVELAND, Ohio (WKRC) — A local ice cream shop is making a difference by offering employment opportunities to individuals who are often overlooked in the job market.
For Simon Evans, a young man with autism, the chance to work at Scoopable has been life-changing.
“We have gluten-free ice cream, we have nut-free ice cream, and we have ice cream for dogs, too. We have two cavapoos, and they absolutely loved it,” said Evans, an employee at Scoopable.
Evans expressed his enthusiasm for his job and what he enjoys most about it.
“I’m a scooper most of the time. I also work the register and do a lot of cleaning. I genuinely just like coming in, seeing my coworkers, and making people smile,” said Evans.
Despite his dedication and hard work, Evans faced challenges in finding employment due to his autism.
“It was really frustrating. A little anxiety,” Evans said.
Scoopable, which emphasizes the “able” in its name, is an ice cream store that employs individuals with disabilities.
“We make the ice cream here on-site, in-house. We package it here and serve our customers,” said Amy Pennington, the owner of Scoopable.
Pennington opened the Loveland ice cream shop in May with the goal of providing employment opportunities for everyone.
“I have three kids. Two of them have disabilities. My oldest is autistic, and my youngest has Down syndrome. I noticed early on that their opportunities for employment were lacking, with an 80% unemployment rate. So, we felt that there was a definite need for that for our kids, but also for other individuals. So, it doesn’t just serve my kids; it serves others, too,” said Pennington.
Evans’ mother, Tara Carty, shared her pride in her son’s progress.
“There were so many things, from eye contact, sitting at a table, getting dressed, being in public, and sitting at a restaurant without having his face in my lap. He couldn’t do any of those things, and he’s done it,” said Carty.
Carty emphasized the importance of giving individuals with disabilities a chance.
“Just because they’re disabled doesn’t mean they’re not able. They are able. People just need to be flexible. Be patient. Give them a chance. Most of this generation of kids have mastered the skills they struggled with as children. Give them a chance,” said Carty.
Evans was introduced to Scoopable through his education at Best Point Education and Behavioral Health. Scoopable is located at 6405 Branch Hill-Guinea Pike in Loveland.