Maplewood, NJ — Beloved Bath in Maplewood is changing the way the world views people with autism and their abilities. Business His partners and longtime friends Pat Miller of West Orange and Pam Cuttoof of Maplewood are full of wonderful scents and caring thoughts for customers with both special and general needs. I made a place Beloved Bath provides on-site job training and personalized care to employees with autism and other professional needs.
“Our training process varies from person to person. Some employees just put the wicks in the candles. Others do the mixing,” Cuttoff told the newspaper. “Some employees have job coaches who help with specific job and communication barriers.”
It’s not just about individualized jobs and coaching. The comprehensiveness of Miller and Kattouf’s training process and work includes visual schedules, skill-based work, and various modifications. From top to bottom, this thoughtful process enables autistic employees to be involved in every step of the production process. They say this attention to detail sets them apart from many other businesses doing similar work.
“Some employees also have photo schedules for non-verbal speakers so they can see what they’re doing at work,” Miller told the newspaper. On our website, we have pictures next to every product so even non-speakers can show the difference between our products, whether it’s candles or soaps. “
Miller and Kattouf became friends even before their sons were diagnosed with autism. After their diagnosis, their bond grew even stronger.
Inspired by their sons, the two women decided to offer products that provide comfort and care to different members of the autism community. Realizing that high-quality raw materials were soothing to my sons, I decided to open a shop that makes products that are both fragrant and comfortable to use.
“Pat and I met 20 years ago at a playground. We reconnected when we were older and had kids and when our two sons were diagnosed with autism,” Cuttoff said. I was. “Our goal was to help children feel good and succeed. When we discovered that lavender and salt could help calm and relax the boys, we I said, ‘Let’s start a business with this’.”
Miller and Kattouf believe that their materials and products have a calming and calming effect on people with autism, but their products work for everyone, regardless of background, lifestyle, or medical diagnosis. I emphasized making myself feel better.
“We don’t want sympathetic purchases or making products that don’t work, but people feel obligated to buy. , they want 10 more,” Kattouf said.
Throughout the women’s business journey, Beloved Bath has always maintained its mission of helping those in the autism community.
“We want to show the world that people with autism are capable and successful members of society. It feels very difficult, if not impossible, to do. Our goal is to change that.”
Beloved Bath at 220 Rutgers St. in Maplewood has been working towards this goal for three years.
“Maplewood has been a really inclusive, thoughtful, and inclusive community for us,” says Miller. “I feel like Maplewood was inclusive before any other town or city could think of it.”
In addition to its dynamic training practices and thoughtful business model for its consumers, Beloved Bath also has built-in break times and social practices for its employees.
Mr Miller said: “Break times are very important for employees to feel happy and connect while they are here.
Cuttoff and Miller, along with other parents, co-founded a school in West Orange called Garden Academy. Miller recently served on the board of directors for a school dedicated to providing the best possible care for students with autism.
“Our school caters to children, so they learn one-on-one or two-on-one,” says Miller. “We have 25 of her to 34 of her students, ensuring they receive the personalized care and learning they need to succeed.”
Community members such as Carol Cohen and her daughter Michelle, who work at Beloved Bath, have nothing but positive things to say about the business.
“We have been involved with Beloved Bath for a year. My daughter loves working here. She develops her skills in a safe place where she is constantly learning,” said Carol Cohen. rice field.
Kattouf and Miller also host charity events, such as T-ball games, and open houses for students to learn skills that will help them find employment.
“We have schools that students enroll in for work-based learning, where students learn both hard and soft skills that translate into the real world when they are ready to enter the workforce,” Katow said. says Mr.
The two women have also launched a charity and a podcast called “Making Sense and Scents.” It is intended to assist families with Spectrum members and provide business advice.
“We invite guests on our podcasts to share knowledge about helping people with autism and starting a business,” says Miller.
Photo by Javon Ross
