Article

Subway franchisee shows those with autism how building sandwiches can build a better life

Many of those with autism find the path to a job and more independent life strewn with obstacles. But one Las Vegas-area Subway franchisee has gone a long way toward clearing that path and, in the process, she has given dozens of the area's young adults with the disorder a route to far better lives.

A Great Team: Donna Curry (center) with Luke on left and Kevin on right. (Photo: Shane O'Neal, Son Studios for Subway)

October 22, 2019

Special to QSRweb.com by Kevin Kane/ Subway Public Relations Manager

Some days, Las Vegas Subway sandwich artist, Luke, starts getting ready for work nearly five hours before his shift actually begins simply because he just loves his job that much. After all, living as Luke does as a teenager with autism, there was a time when he questioned whether he would ever be able to have a job in the first place. 

According to the advocacy group Autism Speaks, more than half of young adults with autism remain unemployed and unenrolled in higher education in the two years after high school. Likewise, they report that nearly half of 25-year-old individuals living with autism have never held a paying job. This, despite the fact that the Autism Speaks says research indicates that jobs that encourage independence reduce symptoms of the complex disorder, while growing individuals' abilities to handle daily living skills. 

"Subway has been in the Las Vegas area going on 37 years now and this is one very important way in which we support our community and the people who live here."                                     

-Subway franchisee Donna Curry

But Luke beat those odds, and his job became a reality through the efforts of longtime Subway franchise owner, Donna Curry, in her work with the Las Vegas area's Grant a Gift Autism Foundation and its TeenWORKS program. The foundation helps people with autism live independently. Through Luke's Subway job, he is gaining the critical skills needed to do just that. 

A path toward independence for those with autism

Fortunately, Luke's story at Subway is not unique. Through Curry's restaurants and the TeenWORKS program, she has employed or provided internships to nearly 25 teenagers living with autism in the Las Vegas area over the last four years.

Curry owns and operates 60 restaurants in greater Las Vegas and oversees a territory of nearly 160 Subway restaurants in Southern Nevada as a Subway business development agent. Outside of her work with Subway, she is chairs the board of the Grant a Gift Autism Foundation, and has made it a personal goal to support and nurture the lives and careers of teenagers living with the disorder.  

"The TeenWORKS program enables our students to go out in the work force and gain confidence in their abilities," Curry said. "It was an idea that I knew I wanted to try at my Subway locations. 

"I started with one and immediately saw that individual's growing confidence and skill set while also allowing me an opportunity to hire some great employees. Subway has been in the Las Vegas area going on 37 years now and this is one very important way in which we support our community and the people who live here."

The job helps Luke engage with customers. When he makes a sandwich for a dine-in guest, Donna and her team encourage him to go and ask that guest how they like their sandwich. Luke's mother said it's the kind of skill that has helped Luke improve his view of himself. 

"The Luke that you see today, is not the Luke that you would have seen three to four years ago," said his mother in an interview, though the family preferred not to include their last name in this report. "His self-confidence is not at the level that he is today."

One Subway operator = many waves of positive change

Luke's co-worker and another TeenWORKS participant, Michael, has also made tremendous strides in his personal growth and development through his work at the chain, according to his mother. 

"It makes me feel ecstatic now (that) I know that I can, you know, find a job on my own." 

 -Eric, Subway TeenWORKS participant

"This experience has been life-changing for Michael," Michael's mom said. "Michael didn't talk -- didn't say a word, until he was five. We never thought he would be where he is today." 

Grant a Gift Autism Foundation Program Services Director Desirae Wingerter said the contribution Curry has made through the program cannot be over-stated. 

"There is no one like Donna Curry in this community," Wingerter said. "And I don't mean to be emotional about that, but that has meant everything for our clients. We love Donna very much."

Foundation President and CEO Terri Janison agreed, saying that the difference this one Subway operator has made in the lives of so many people with autism and their families is impressive. 

"The program that Donna has started with our TeenWORKS program and providing internships and employment in the community at the Subway shops, is one of a kind," Janison said. 

Lest there be any doubt about that, the program participants themselves chimed in to voice their positive feelings about working at Curry's shops. 

"I just like that feeling of getting the paycheck," said fellow participant in the program, Darick. "It's always very rewarding." 

Another participant, Grant, said simply that he loves the work, while his colleague, Eric, was even more encouraged by what the opportunity has opened up for him in his life. 

"It makes me feel ecstatic now (that) I know that I can, you know, find a job on my own," Eric said.

As Curry has both known and expected, one of her best employees from the program recently gave notice that he was going to leave the chain after finding another job. While it was tough for Curry to say farewell to this peak performer, she was also tremendously proud that he had grown so greatly under her employment.  

"This is what it's all about," said Curry, who first joined the board of the Grant a Gift Foundation after being encouraged by a friend who has a grandchild with autism. "Giving these kids the opportunity to create an independent life for themselves is the ultimate goal and when I see it happen before my eyes, it's a life-changing experience."

Passing it on

Curry said she believes other brands can also do this kind of good by finding an organization to support that it connects with. From there, she said, the work itself comes naturally. Still, she underlined the importance of involving your whole restaurant team in the process every step of the way, not only for their support but for their own personal growth and fulfillment. 

"I love giving, because my philosophy is givers gain," Curry said. "And giving with this organization is the best possible feeling you could ever have."