Special needs student work in pizza parlor, other local businesses

By CRAIG SHULTZ - cshultz@californian.com

Saturday, July 25, 2009 5:07 PM PDT

Pizza parlor owner Kevin Serrano couldn't help but inadvertently use the name of his restaurant when talking about the opportunity to employ special-needs students.

"You never have an opportunity like this as a business owner. It's unique," said the proprietor of Unique Pizza & Subs on Madison Avenue in Murrieta. "I don't know what it means to them, but I know what it means to me."

The students are part of the county Office of Education's special education program based at Elsinore High School.

The teenagers work at area businesses during the week, but especially look forward to their visit to Unique Pizza, said Sergio Saldana, an instructional assistant.

The students arrive one hour before the restaurant opens each Thursday and handle jobs such as vacuuming, cleaning tables and setting up stools.

While some employees would consider those tasks to be menial, the opportunity is relished by the students.

"It gives these guys great experience," said Saldana, who usually accompanies the work crew along with fellow instructional aide Renee Chavez.

Daevisia Williams dances as she wipes tables and smiles can be seen on the faces of Andrew Moreno and Ashley Murray as they vacuum the floor.

Ashley said she loves working at the restaurant and it's the best part of the week.

The idea of the program is to help the students, whose disabilities range from Down syndrome to slight mental retardation, assimilate into adult life.

The students can stay in the school program until they are 22 years old, at which point many get jobs, Saldana said.

Besides the work experience, the students attend classes at Elsinore High almost year-round.

While the students have fun, they realize they are not at the restaurant to play.

"They know it's not homework, it's not school work; It's work," Saldana said.

There are about 10 students in the program, Saldana said, although they don't all work each day.

Those older than 18 can earn a salary for their efforts, and they all are allowed to visit the soda fountain when they are done working at the restaurant. Saldana will often pay for a pizza for the group.

Besides Unique Pizza, students work at Sizzler and Payless shoes, as well as at the cafeteria at Elsinore High.

"This is the one they can't wait to come to," Saldana said outside the restaurant, surrounded by students wearing green T-shirts bearing the pizza parlor's name.

Daevisia, 15, has Down syndrome. Her mother, Latisia Williams, said her daughter looks forward to working.

"This is a wonderful program," Latisia Williams said. "She talks about her job every day. It boosts up her self-esteem. ... I think every special-needs child needs an experience like this."

Saldana said Serrano jumped at the opportunity to have the students work in his restaurant when asked.

And Serrano doesn't just sit back and watch the students clean, he helps them work and gets to know them.

On a recent Thursday morning, he was helping Andrew with a bulky vacuum cleaner, but still making sure the 17-year-old didn't miss a spot on the rug.

Serrano said working with the teens allows him to really see their personalities, something they are sometimes too shy to reveal.

"Every Thursday morning is an experience," he said.

Call staff writer Craig Shultz at 951-676-4315, ext. 2625.