'I opened a cafe after seeing my autistic son's job struggles'

A family who started their own business after their autistic son struggled to find work are pleading with employers to have faith in job applicants with learning difficulties.

Emily Petts, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, said her 19-year-old son Loui had faced limited opportunities for employment.

In response, she and her family decided to open a cafe in the town despite having little hospitality experience, with the aim of supporting him into further work in the future.

“We thought we can sit and moan about it or we can do something about it," Mrs Petts said.

Since opening the cafe in October, she said her son had grown in confidence through his front-of-house duties.

"At first he would go out on the front," added chef and grandad Tony Talbot.

"Now he'll take orders [and] take the meals out. We go shopping on a Monday, he scans all the items [and is] very hands on."

Mrs Petts said her son's learning difficulties meant he had a reading and writing age of an early primary school child.

The family looked at several supported internship roles for him but said they required reading and writing levels which were beyond him or independent travel and working alone.

"Loui can't do independent travel because if Loui got lost, he wouldn't speak to anyone," she said.

"But there's no reason he can't work. There's absolutely no reason him and others like him can't work."

A report in March 2023 from the Office for National Statistics found about half of people with disabilities do not have a paid job, a rate more than double the rest of the working age population.

The cafe is now set to take on more staff from local college Martec Training.

"Employers look at it like we're making a difference to them, but you'll never understand what they give you back," Mrs Petts added.

"The cheer, the commitment, watching them learn new skills and being proud - it's worth everything."

The family said customers with disabled children had also found Loui's Kitchen to be a safe space where families could get support and understanding.

"I've brought my little boy here [who has] got autism," said one mum, Arania Gill from Clayton.

"It's such a welcoming environment."

While Jenna Lovett, who travelled from Alton, in the Staffordshire Moorlands, for a cup of tea, said "it's inspiring".

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