Gil’s Sweet Abilities, an at-home bakery business run by a mother and her son with autism

A community mother and son workforce are redefining the opportunities for individuals with Autism with their skilled at-house bakery, Gil’s Sweet Abilities. 

“We’re baking cinnamon rolls,” Gilbert Valenzuela said from his property in Whittier. 

The cinnamon rolls are a single of Gilbert’s beloved items to make at the family’s at-residence bakery he runs together with his mom Jeanette Valenzuela. 

“Lifestyle with Gilbert, it is really kind of like staying on a roller coaster with your eyes shut. You know, autism is not a breeze,” Jeanette said. 

The 20-calendar year-outdated Gilbert was diagnosed with autism 16 several years ago, and he led a pretty occupied existence until eventually June of 2020. 

“He graduated, and then there was almost nothing. So, Gilbert required something to do.” 

Which is when Jeannette mentioned she made the decision to provide Gilbert on as an official compensated employee. 

“You need to have to just take breaks and the perform can be modified, but if want to get paid this income, then you are likely to have to do the get the job done,” she claimed of the undertaking with her son. 

The style is plain and the pair’s teamwork is unbeatable. 

“Our busiest times are Halloween as a result of Xmas. The final working day we do settle for orders, while, is on Christmas Eve and the working day prior to Christmas Eve. So, that’s the day you got to choose up,” Gilbert mentioned. 

Jeannette explained going from mom to boss wasn’t far too a great deal of a transition, but thinks it will be when they ideally expand the organization. 

“Inviting some of his peers, no matter whether it be a person with autism or Shaw Gibbs syndrome or down-syndrome, people all with distinctive qualities that may well not have the chances that a common particular person would.” 

In the upcoming 5 decades, she and Gilbert hope to have a brick-and-mortar shop with several personnel. Right until then, they are going to operate from house, a area where there is a large amount of their solution component. 

“Mine are essentially created with adore, just like how crabby patties are made with enjoy,” Gilbert reported.