She’s a warrior woman! My Inspiration. I love an underdog story. The world told her ‘No’ and she said, “Watch me!” I heard the Rocky theme song playing in the background the moment I saw Collettey’s story on Facebook.
So I took a chance and ordered her cookies to see what all the fuss was about! They promptly arrived and I sat down to enjoy one of them…that was my mistake…I ate 6 of them!!!! They ARE SPECTACULAR! She claims her cookies are the best because they’re made with love and cinnamon! I can definitely taste the LOVE!
Since 2011, Collette, a young woman with Down Syndrome, has been creating her own recipe for cookies for fun! But after rejection over and over again when applying for a job and being told she had great skills but was not “a good fit” she was determined to own her own business, despite any disability, and show people how able she is. Collette was not only determined to show everyone how capable people with (dis) abilities are, but her mission is to open production facilities across the country and employ thousands of different abilities ! ONLY 17.5% of the population of people with disabilities were employed in 2015.
Collette’s plan moving forward, is to increase production and build her professional team in Boston as Phase I. Which she has started! Collette is already in discussion to replicate this first phase across the country in different states, so she can offer employment to thousands of people with different abilities. This is one strong, young lady!
You can be a part of her success by purchasing her cookies or supporting her Go Fund Me Program.
With an inspired heart and tears in my eyes, I say to other women afraid to try–No More Excuses!– and to Collette I say, “You Rock Young Lady, You Rock!”
Her Mission? Read her own words:
Collette, a young woman born in 1990 with Down Syndrome, has been creating her own recipe for cookies for fun! But after rejection repeatedly when applying for a paying job and being told she had great skills, was always told the same thing…she was not “a good fit”.
Collette was determined to open her own business and try to earn a living on her own. Collette, a very tenacious young woman, despite any disability, was off to show people how able she is and how other’s like herself can be of great value to their community. Collette has created a global movement (check out her In The News Page) and is known by many throughout the world.
Her response to all this new unintentional fame is, “why are people so surprised”. Collette travels around the country to share her inspiring story, and constantly encourage people to focus on their abilities rather than what they can’t do.
She speaks to audiences of hundreds to thousands and has decided she needs to use her platform to create change and to help the non-disabled population see abilities and start including and employing people with disabilities more and more. It pains Collette to know 82% of people with a disability, that are capable of work, cannot find paying jobs…which means they cannot live independently.
With every cookie sale Collettey’s has, Collette is one step closer to offering yet another employment opportunity in her company. And with every cookie sale Collettey’s has, Collette is also one step closer to her “Call to Action” plan that she insists on leading.
This plan is to represent her community in Washington, D.C. with a written employment incentive policy for adoption, and to request the elimination of the sub minimum wage. She has been referred to as “One smart cookie” and “One tough cookie”.
