For those with developmental disabilities, ‘PawsAbilities’ high for solid careers

Sam Rogers of Shawnee often finds himself surrounded by a waggle-tailed pack of admirers at work.

When Rogers clocks in, his admirers bound toward him — jumping, barking, wiggling and “kissing.”

“The dogs love me,” Rogers said.

Rogers, 23, works part time at Fetchers Play & Stay, a doggie daycare in Olathe.

Holding down a job is part of Rogers’ education at Inclusion Connections, an Olathe-based nonprofit designed to prepare individuals with developmental disabilities for a future with meaningful work in their communities.

In the small dog yard, Rogers oversees the pups at play, cleans up after them and makes sure the frolicking doesn’t get too rough.

“The dogs gravitate toward him,” said Heather Bever, owner of Fetcher’s. “He has a calming effect on them.”

When Rogers isn’t working with dogs, he’s busy baking treats for them in the nonprofit’s skills-training and employment program, PawsAbilities.

PawsAbilities is geared toward dogs and their owners who buy treats, toys and apparel for their pets.

In a commercial kitchen, the students bake three flavors of dog treats: peanut butter, beef and grain-free pumpkin. They also sew bandanas and make pull and chew toys out of old T-shirts and used fire hoses.

Selling the pet products gives the students an opportunity to use a cash register, make change and acquire customer-service skills.

The products are sold in the PawsAbilities retail store, at Fetcher’s Play and Stay, at farmers markets and festivals and as pop-up shops at area businesses.

When Debbie Horn founded Inclusion Connections in 2013, she was looking ahead to life after high school for her son, Matt.

“When Matt was a junior in high school, I could see the future when he graduated. There wasn’t much available for him.”

From kindergarten through his senior year, her son had been a part of the school’s academic community.

“He wanted a life like his classmates,” Horn said.

To make that happen, she founded Inclusion Connections, a place where Matt and others with diagnoses such as Down syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy could grow, learn and work.

Matt, 24, sews most of the bandanas that are sold. Since PawsAbilities was founded in 2018, Matt has sewn more than 1,700.

His own dog, Ace, “has quite a few” bandanas, Matt said.

When considering the kind of merchandise that would be a good fit for the students and would also sell well, Horn chose dog products because “compassionate people who love dogs would also love our mission.”

The mission is what attracted Justin Mackey of Lenexa to become a volunteer for PawsAbilities.

“I like what they do for kids, giving them a place to learn skills,” Mackey said.

Mackey worked at the PawsAbilities booth at the Olathe Farmers Market in Black Bob Park recently.

When passers-by inquire about the products displayed, “once they learn about the organization, it usually ends in a sale,” Mackey said.

Sometimes those visitors turn into repeat customers, like Victoria King of Olathe who owns three dogs and said she comes to buy the treats every weekend.

Al Dietrich of Overland Park made a special trip to the PawsAbilities booth to purchase the dog treats for his “grand-dog who stays with us on weekends.”

Revenue from PawsAbilities sales makes up 15% of the nonprofit’s operating funds.

Between 60 and 70 students have found jobs through Inclusion Connections. Students are working at an insurance company, pool hall, animal laboratory, coffee shop and other sites.

Because transportation can be a barrier to employment, Inclusion Connections provides rides to jobs for all who need them.

PawsAbilities, 2073 E. Santa Fe, Olathe. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Go to www.PawsKC.org or call 913-839-8735 for more information.

This story was originally published August 25, 2020 at 5:00 AM with the headline "For those with developmental disabilities, ‘PawsAbilities’ high for solid careers."