Donning chef jackets, toques and unrelenting smiles, the special needs young adults gather in an industrial kitchen and begin the journey from recipe to baked treat. Under the tutelage of a gentle, third-generation baker, they mix batter, roll dough, brush frosting, and slide all that goodness into the oven hour after hour.
On paper, this is a vocational programme that trains adults with disabilities on how to bake pastries. But it is so much more: lessons and learning for a group that has not always seen success. About a year from now, with concepts memorised and critical life skills mastered, the students will be ready for a workplace that values their proficiency but also appreciates their differences.