Pocono News Section

Coffee Shop Brews Awareness of Autism

Coffee Shop Brews Awareness of Autism - Friday, April 17, 2009 at 5:34PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 @ 05:34pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY --Java lovers in Luzerne County are learning about Autism with every pot that's brewed. Each morning, David's Coffee Shop in Wilkes-Barre opens its doors to open customers' minds.

Customer Dan Decker says “awareness is whole answer. You have to be aware of what's going on."

The shop's named after 23-year-old David Joseph who lives with Autism. He keeps the shop in tip-top shape... Java started brewing here in 2007. It was Suzanne and John's way of giving their son purpose after he graduated high school. "The programs are wonderful for young kids but as they get older they fall off the face of the earth."

Now waking up for work, keeps David motivated. But his parents say other employers are reluctant to hire those with autism. John Joseph, David's father says “they need somewhere to go these young adults."

Psychiatrist Jyoti Shah of the Northeast Behavioral Health Care Consortium based in Moosic says many adults with autism can be valuable employees. But she says there aren't enough organized social services for them --although that's improving. “People are now mere aware that this condition does not end at end of childhood or adolescence."

This completely volunteer-run shop now invites teens with autism to train here. But the hope is these kids will teach customers something too. Volunteer Judy Gildea says “maybe of all the people that come, there will be somebody who can give them a job."

With every cup of joe --David's Coffee Shop wakes up the community in more ways than one.