The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/1306768
BY JILLIAN BUCKLEY Dance parties at work might not happen oen at your workplace, but at No Limits Cafe in Red Bank, their occurrence is only natural in an environment where you are always served with a smile. No Limits Cafe, a cafe that employs people with intellectual disabilities, was founded by Stephanie and Mark Cartier, and inspired by their 22-year old daughter Katie who has Down Syndrome. No Limits Cafe was in the works for about two years and came about as Stephanie thought about Katie's adulthood prospects once she turned 21. Stephanie said "at point at an adult with an intellectual disability's life is called 'falling off the cliff ', and there's no real jobs, there's no college, there's not a lot to do." In order to avoid that fate for Katie, and as a result of the amount of people they knew with intellectual disabilities in Monmouth County, the Cartiers thought about opening a restaurant to provide employment for these individuals. Stephanie said although her family did not have any restaurant experience (aside from eating at them, of course!), they did research on other restaurants, and were even mentored at a Texas restaurant, which solidified their passion and belief in their cause. No Limits Cafe hires people on all ends of the intellectual disability spectrum; there are people in wheelchairs, who can't read, or who are nonverbal, but they fit seamlessly into the cafe's environment. Publisher of VUE NJ, Jason Underberg has a personal connection with the employees there, as his sister-in-law, Hayley Lawrence was recently promoted to a managerial position. However, the unemployment rate for people with intellectual disabilities sits at a staggering 80%, despite the multitude of restaurants in the Monmouth County area. No Limits Cafe's opportunity for employment at a restaurant reminds others that people with intellectual disabilities can cook, prepare food, and provide service. GOOD FOOD & GOOD DEEDS V U E N J . C O M 100