run by people who attend YAI’s Tarrytown day program.
YAI’s Tarrytown Day Habilitation Center recently celebrated the opening of its on-site employment program, a craft store named Unique Boutique.
The store is staffed by eight people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who attend the day program and their crafts such as beaded jewelry, greeting cards, poetry work, and resin art are all sold at the store. The program aims to foster a supportive, learning environment that also focuses on the individual creative passions of the people YAI supports.
Tarrytown Mayor Karen Brown, state Assemblywoman Mary Jane Shimsky and members of the Westchester Chamber of Commerce were among the 50 attendees at an Oct. 17 ribbon-cutting event.
The new space allows people with I/DD to learn retails skills while also building independence and confidence. The store will be open on Fridays from 1-2 p.m. and the staff will be learning how to run it by doing various jobs such as sales, inventory, and greeting customers. Each person working at the store had to go through the hiring process and fill out an application for the position they wanted, interviewed, and attended staff orientation.
“It’s a dream they have all had to work at a boutique like this and sell their art and now it’s come true,” said Laurie Silver-Lewis, a direct support professional at the day habilitation center who oversees the employment training program. “It’s about them feeling safe in this space and gaining that confidence while on their journey of self-empowerment.”
their creations during the opening of Unique Boutique, an onsite craft store that’s open Fridays from 1-2 p.m. Contributed photo
Currently, the unemployment rate for people with I/DD is more than twice as high as those without disabilities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 21% of working age adults with I/DD are unemployed, compared to less than 8% of adults without disabilities who are unemployed.
The program staff say they hope to expand their store hours as they increase their skill set and open the store to the community in the future.
