Unless U Scoops offers adults with developmental disabilities a sweet, safe spot to shine

from Bham Family - September 2021

by JBMC Media

Family fitness ideas to prioritize movement together

PHOTOGRAPHS BY BETH HONTZAS

The mission of Unless U Scoops is to provide vocational training for the students of Unless U in a safe and fun work environment, all while serving the community with the sweetest of skills.

How Sweet It Is

Students put their vocational training to work at Unless U Scoops, where customers get tasty treats and service with a smile.

BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE

“I have always had a heart for anyone with special needs,” says Lindy. “My parents said that even as a preschooler, I quickly began to pick up on the fact that Jordan wanted to do everything our oldest brother, Josh, and I could do, regardless of the task. He would get frustrated when he could not keep up the same pace or meet similar academic challenges.”

As he sat crying in the hallway that day, Lindy thought about all that was before her: classes and games and dances and even something as simple as a shirt with her school name on it. “His heartache was so real,” she says. “And I kept thinking, “Why do I get to do all these things and his option is to sit at home?” When I looked at Jordan, I didn’t see his Down Syndrome. I saw a big brother who just wanted to be like everyone else.”

In 2011, Alabama ranked 46th among 50 states in spending on services for developmental disabilities. But Alabama is home to more than 350,000 adults between 18 and 64 with intellectual disabilities. While some can work a part-time or full-time job, many are on waiting lists for community services like day programs and recreational programs or job skill workshops. Others simply stay at home, where families must

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sacrifice finances, schedules, and transportation logistics to ensure opportunities for their young adults. “My mom was an incredible teacher, but she had to retire way too young to be at home with Jordan,” says Lindy. “There is no “empty nest” for parents of adults with intellectual disabilities.”

These heartbreaking observations, coupled with the knowledge that there wasn’t much for Jordan to do after programs and therapy ended at age 21, stayed with Lindy through college.

While at Samford, she launched D4D (Dance for Down Syndrome), a community-wide dance event that offered college students the chance to socialize with special needs students in a fun atmosphere. In turn, the special needs students got a small taste of life on a college campus. “That one event revealed to me that creating a college-like program for Jordan and his friends could indeed become a reality,” says Lindy.

Later, during the summer before her senior year, Lindy worked at a United Abilities camp. She was offered the chance to go on a field trip with the campers to see The Lorax. Sitting in the theater, she saw a Dr. Seuss quote flash up across the screen: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

“My first thought was, “Can we create something that makes him feel like he gets to go to college too?” Lindy says. “I thought, if I don’t step out in faith and trust the Lord to provide, then who is going to? Lindy finished working at the camp on a Friday in August, and the following Monday, she had four adults with special needs at her parents’ house.

Of the summer 2014 pilot program, Lindy says she lovingly refers to the first four students as the “Founding Fathers” of the program. Unless U officially opened in November 2014 with Lindy, 10 students, and one assistant. The numbers climbed from there: 20 students, then 30, then 40. Today there are around 100 enrolled students, and potential student inquiries come in constantly. “Because we are a continuing education program, prospects are asked to participate in an interview and assessment process to make sure each prospective student is the right fit for Unless U, and that Unless U is the right fit for each student,” says Lindy. “Almost every time I meet

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 GET THE SCOOP

Unless U Scoops is located at 737 Chestnut Street in Vestavia. Hours are Monday–Thursday 1–5 p.m. and Friday 1–8 p.m. They are closed Saturday–Sunday but will consider opening for a special event via request through their website.

Ice cream flavors include vanilla, chocolate, cookies n cream, peach buttermilk, blueberry cobbler—with blueberry jam and cobbler crust pieces— beach bonfire, a smoked coconut vegan ice cream with vegan fudge and graham crumb, and the Scoops signature flavor: The Unicorn, featuring cake batter ice cream with sprinkles served with a “unicone.”

Get a kid’s scoop for $3, a single scoop for $4, a double for $8, or try a flight of six kid’s scoops for $12; a half-flight is $9. The shop is currently accepting contactless payment only.

with a parent, they say, “Thank God this exists.””

“Unless U is providing a faith-based college experience who would not have it if Unless U was not here. They have electives, academics, intramural sports. It’s everything that college was for us—but better,” says Dr. Ammie Akin, Unless U Board President. The students’ days start with praise and prayer, followed by academics, then fun in the afternoons, with programs like book club, tech club, kickball, and line dancing. “Our students are incredibly special, and we want the best for them because they are the best,” says Lindy.

Just four years after its start, in November 2018, Unless U launched a capital campaign to raise $1.6 million for a new campus with six classrooms, life skills classroom, a large common area, and fine arts space for drama, dance, and music. Also included were plans for a multihandicap classroom to give them an ability to expand services, and an ice cream shop. This past summer, Unless U officially opened its new campus, and on August 6, Unless U Scoops swung open its doors.

“It’s been crazy how God has shown up and shown out multiple times,” says Lindy.

“Our students are employed and selling ice cream to the public,” she says.

“Our primary goal at Unless U is to create an environment that promotes independence. We provide services for our students to grow academically, socially, physically, and spiritually. But until recently, we didn’t have the opportunity to provide vocational support.”

Today, students and their families sign up for shifts, where they serve scoops and smiles. The ice cream is supplied by local favorite Big Spoon Creamery. The smiles are courtesy of proud, dedicated employees who get to showcase the skills they’ve honed at Unless U.

“Our students desire to be employed just like everyone else. We know that jobs provide purpose, and we want to give the students of Unless U the opportunity to wake up every day feeling valued and purposeful, whether that be in the classroom, on stage, on the basketball court, or at work,” says Lindy. “This is why we felt the need for Unless U Scoops.”

For more information about Unless U and Unless U Scoops, visit unlessu.org, or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.