The WAVE
Current Hours (Week of 8/11 and 8/18)
Monday - Sat. 12- 7pm
Sunday 12pm - 5 PM
Why Matters
Closing the Employment Gap for People with Disabilities
Despite decades of progress, individuals with disabilities remain dramatically underrepresented in the workforce. In the United States, only 22% of working-age people with disabilities were employed in 2023, compared to 65% of those without disabilities (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). This persistent employment gap is not just a matter of missed opportunity—it represents a systemic failure to create inclusive, supportive, and accessible pathways into meaningful work.
The WAVE was created to help change that.
At The WAVE, we believe that everyone deserves a chance to work, contribute, and be valued. We are more than just a gelato café—we are a training ground, a stepping stone, and a community hub where young adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities can build job skills, confidence, and independence. Our program offers hands-on training in customer service, food handling, communication, and teamwork, all within an inclusive and supportive environment.
Research shows that when people with disabilities are given access to vocational training and support, they can thrive in competitive employment. According to a report by the National Core Indicators, adults with disabilities who receive job training are five times more likely to be employed than those who do not.
Still, barriers persist:
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80% of people with developmental disabilities are unemployed or underemployed (The Arc, 2022).
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Many transition-age youth leave school without a clear path forward.
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Employers often lack the tools, awareness, or confidence to hire inclusively.
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The WAVE addresses these gaps by preparing young adults not only to enter the workforce—but to succeed in it.
By supporting programs like The WAVE, you’re helping to create a world where disability is not a barrier to opportunity, where everyone is seen for their ability, and where inclusion is not a checkbox—but a way of doing business.
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Together, we can make waves—and make change.