PETALING JAYA – Being atypical should not prevent talented individuals from gaining the work experience they deserve.
This belief inspired former lawyer Laura Yap to start a social initiative – a gelato cafe named YL’s Gelateria – for her 25-year-old autistic son, Khoo Yuan Li, whose initials are the cafe’s namesake.
The cafe also welcomes other atypical individuals who want to experience being part of the workforce.
The employees gain practical working experience and learn theoretical aspects such as personal appearance and hygiene, health and safety awareness, pre-packed food handling, food safety, customer service, and managing payments.
Yap provides group therapy sessions with educational psychologists twice a week to help employees develop self-management and conflict-resolution skills in the workplace.
“The reason why we do not hold individual sessions is that we want them to understand each other as a group, so they learn to adjust, self-manage, and resolve conflict while being under supervision.
“The cognitive behavioural therapy I provide is focused on how to ease (them) into working life. Those coming here may not have worked at all.
“It is an avenue for them to have a voice on how they want their work life to be (in here),” she told reporters during a recent interview at her cafe.
Currently, YL’s Gelateria employs two full-time workers and is looking to hire three more. Despite posting a recruitment notice after the cafe’s opening in November last year, Yap noted that the response was lukewarm.
“I was under the impression that there was a need for this place where people could work in a sheltered environment, but there was not a good response to it at all.
“If you work here and can pass our syllabus and examinations, I guarantee you will find jobs anywhere else in the related field. You will not be stuck here (in the cafe) for the rest of your life.
“I want you (individuals working here) to branch out and flourish… they need this kind of grounding when they start, we only have qualified people working here,” she said, explaining that her supervisor has a master’s degree in behavioural moderation.
Yap chose a gelato-based business to minimise occupational hazards, as individuals with special needs are often uninsured. The cafe avoids open kitchens, open-fire appliances, and sharp utensils to ensure a safe working environment.
She shared that her initiative is part of “estate planning” for her son, providing a place for him to work, interact with the public under qualified supervision, and gain financial independence. It also offers him a sense of belonging, which is crucial for his mental health.
“One thing for him wanting to belong is also to help with his mental health. That is the most important thing to me, not the money, but the fact that he feels accepted and part of society.
“When (one) gets thrown into (a workplace) with non-atypical people, there will be problems with mental health issues rising, (like being) ostracised or made (to feel) small, (leading) to depression and then medication.
“Prescription (medication) is good at the start, but you must teach the child skills to self-regulate, which is what many parents do not do,” she said.
Yap jokingly mentioned that the only downside to her gelato initiative is the need to keep the cafe open later, as most people prefer to eat dessert after dinner. – May 24, 2024