Working and living independently are goals we all have as we grow up. This seemingly simple step into adulthood can be an overwhelming challenge for persons with developmental disabilities like autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, or any of a range of other such disabilities that affect about one in six American children, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentage of working-age people with disabilities who are employed is about one-third of the percentage of people without any disability. About 50 percent of people who are employed struggle to complete their tasks due to their disabilities, according to the BLS

Cornell research found that in 2015, 35.2% of working-age (21-64) people with disabilities were employed, compared with the 78.3% of people without disabilities.

The Disability Status Reports are produced and funded by the Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability at the Cornell University ILR School. This effort originated as a product of the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Disability Demographics and Statistics funded  by the U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (Grant No. H133B031111).

Since 1987 Sugar Plum Bakery has been promoting integration of adults with developmental disabilities by providing employment and training opportunities. We strive to increase community awareness of the worth of people with developmental disabilities. We want to change the perception of people with disabilities. It is important to utilize the different skills of this often undervalued population into our lives. We have created a thriving and unique business model where people with developmental disabilities successfully work alongside their non-disabled coworkers. We have proven that this population can be an essential part of a successful business. From putting together boxes, stamping bags, scooping cookies, making cupcakes, washing dishes or helping our loyal Sugar Plum Bakery customers, our employees are the back bone of our organization.

In 1987, we started with four individuals in our training program. Since 1987 we have provided employment and employment training to over 1000 individuals with developmental disabilities.