People with disabilities are the most underemployed demographic of workers, despite having some of the lowest figures for employee turnover among any working group. Job training for this population is also lacking, particularly in rural and underserved regions.

In my area, the local demand for job training opportunities for young adults with developmental disabilities is high, but not every type of employment environment is a suitable training ground -- and not every employer is equipped or willing to serve in this capacity. Our town had a small confectionary business that filled this niche (and employed my twin sister), but it has closed.

Food services in our remote town (of Oppenheimer fame), are very limited because they are prohibitively hard to found and manage as brick-and-mortar operations.

So,

I'M STARTING A FOOD TRUCK!

I have years of experience in the disability space (both personally and as a K-12 educator), I professionally support community workforce development programs at the university level, and currently happen to be a barista (#adjunctlife). I also have a PhD in biology, but that is another story --

The truck (named after the fuel source for nuclear reactions...IYKYK) will be staffed with interested students and their certified job trainers, likely as a barebones coffee/breakfast truck in the mornings. Off-hours, it will be loaned to our local co-op grocery for the sale of more traditional prepared foods.

Right now I am raising seed funding to purchase a suitable vehicle. I have the practical support of a local food co-op/kitchen, former food truck owners, and a bunch of smart, handy, and community-minded folks.

Come along for the ride!