Joe was always worried about his two kids. He is a father of 10, including daughter Mary Kate, 21, and son Josh, 18, who both have Down Syndrome. Worried about their future, dad decided to create a job opportunity for them and teach them about finances and communication simultaneously.
Read this story about Ohio dad of how he is helping his kids with down syndrome run a business and let this article warm your heart today.
This Ohio dad has set up ice cream for his two kids with down syndrome to create a job opportunity for them. Fearing that the kids won't be able to get a job out there, dad took it upon himself to create a job for them and has done a remarkable job at it.
Joe Wegener and his family have teamed up to sling ice creams to their neighbors in Loveland, Ohio, have already sold thousands of 'neat treats' to locals so far.
Joe is a father of 10 and has two kids including daughter Mary Kate, 21, and son Josh, 18, who both have Down Syndrome.
Joe came up with the idea of a job to teach his kids about finances, communication, social skills, and customer service.
They have named their business 'Special Neat Treats', a name dreamt up by his wife Freida as a 'nod to the special needs community'.
Speaking to WLWT, Joe said:
"It started out as an idea to sell ice cream. Now it's so much bigger than that."
He said when people asked Mary Kate what she wanted to do, she always replied:
"I want to work with Papa."
Joe explained:
"But then when we started talking about this ice cream business, it was just natural to bring her in and also bring Josh in."
He added:
"Almost every time I go out, I find a family with special needs or with something, some connections. It's just been an unbelievable journey."
Joe shares that his kids Mary Kate and Josh have not only learned about business but they are doing very well and have sold more than 5,000 deserts so far.
Josh shares that his father has taught him customer service skills and also how to deal with customers including making them smile and waving at them.
Sharing his love for the product he flogs, Josh said:
"We love ice cream... and we all scream for ice cream!"
Joe now hopes that one day he will be able to expand his family business, adding:
"No matter what your abilities are, there's something that you can do.
"And you can spread joy, and interact with other people."
In another interview with WXIX, dad explained that his other job - alongside raising 10 kids with Freida - is working for a fundraising company.
Joe says that usually he used to have free time during summers but ow he has found another way of keeping himself busy.
He said:
"On a daily basis we connect with people that care so much about special needs, or they have their own story and to be able to sit in this truck, look out the window and see kids coming screaming and parents bringing their kids."
Joe hopes that this business will be able to inspire other people, saying:
"No matter what your family situation is or the dynamics of what's going on, one thing is there's hope and there's joy.
"And there's some normality to life and we're going to do that through this means of sharing an ice cream with you. As much as possible, we want to get out there and share the joy and share hope."
