Mom Starts Bakery In Effort To Help Autistic Son
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 12:09 PM
WBNS-10TV
COLUMBUS, Ohio —
A mother who was trying to help her autistic son started a business that helps other people as well.
Audrey Todd opened a bakery in Clintonville, 10TV's Andrea Cambern reported on Wednesday.
Todd is a psychology professor at The Ohio State University, but she launched a second career when she opened Food for Good Thought. The bakery sells only gluten-free products.
She started it to help her young son, who has autism, after reading that cutting out gluten might help his symptoms.
"That was one of the few things that actually helped him," Todd said.
She also learned that few autistic adults find work.
"It's roughly six percent of people with autism are employed," Todd said.
So she got certified by the state at provide job training and job placement for autistic adults.
With the help of some staff members who are not autistic, she sells baked goods and pizzas to people who have to avoid gluten, as well as a few universities who want to provide the choice to their students.
April is Autism Awareness Month. A number of homes and businesses will feature blue lights on Friday and Saturday, to try and increase awareness of the growing number of people diagnosed with autism.
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