Princeton Restaurant Welcomes People With Disabilities To Workforce

PRINCETON, NJ —As businesses continue to face staffing challenges, a local restaurant recently welcomed back a valuable workforce – people with disabilities.

Princeton’s Salt Creek Grille has partnered with Eden Autism to provide the students with work experience.

Through Eden School’s Transition to Employment program, students learn skills for jobs in restaurants, offices, retail, hospitality and other paid employment opportunities.

Hugh Preece, President and Operating Partner of Salt Creek Grille said hiring students with special needs was a “win-win” situation.

“People with disabilities amaze you and you learn from them on a daily basis as they learn from you,” Preece said.

At the restaurant, students in involved in taking care of the front and back of the restaurant. Their duties include preparing the bar and drink area, folding napkins, chopping vegetables and other prep work to ensure the Salt Creek Grille runs smoothly.

Although the tasks might seem small, they have a big impact in the overall running of the restaurant, Salt Creek Grille said.

“It takes a workload off another person to allow them to flourish and learn other skill sets,” Preece said.

Tyrone Burston, Lead Teacher of the Transition to Employment Program, said that creating a relationship with businesses is a huge part of the program.

“We integrate what Salt Creek Grille does into our school kitchen as much as possible,” Burston said. This not only prepares students to work at the restaurant, but enables them to secure jobs at restaurants all over the state.

“We really want our kids to be prepared ultimately for jobs when they graduate, and the best place to get that experience is here, in a real kitchen,” Burston said.

Most students who graduate from Eden School enter Eden’s Adult Services program, where they continue to use the skills to work at businesses across New Jersey.

Preece noted that having individuals with disabilities in the workforce benefits the entire staff. “Many of the workers are immigrants, and in their countries, you don’t see people with challenges. They’re kind of invisible in the community," Preece said.

"So, this not only helps them have compassion for others, but it really opens up their mind to a different way of thinking.”

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