POWAY, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — During Autism Awareness and Inclusion Month in April, FOX 5 has continued to tell stories of accomplishment for people with autism and their families.
In Poway, Laura Bache and her son Oli combined their skills to create a cookie business. The business is called Oli's Cookies. Oli has autism and has limited language, so his work speaks volumes about his talent.
“So everything actually happens very quickly. The most difficult thing is remembering to set the timer,” Ms. Bache said, talking about her and her son's business process.
Bache spends as much time as possible baking, and Oli creates all the artwork for the business.
“Little by little, I completely transformed my kitchen into a home office. There's an extra refrigerator, an extra freezer, and shelving,” Bache explained.
Bacchae bakes all the cookies. There are eight plant-based options from Chocolate Chip, Snickerdoodle, Strawberry Bliss, Maui Macadamia Nut, and our most popular flavor, Limoncello.
“It takes about three hours to make about 500 cookies,” Bache said. “Cookie trays bake one cookie at a time. We're getting ready to invest in a larger oven.”
Nine-year-old Ori is responsible for all the artwork for the cookie bags.
“He feels really good. I think he's very proud of our product. He feels special to have his name on it,” Bacchae said of her son. Ta. “I mean, this kid has always been a great artist, and he's very talented.
Behind each packaged dozen is the story of Oli and Laura.
Laura quit her job as a chef of 20 years when Oli was diagnosed with autism when he was three years old.
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is defined as a wide range of symptoms related to brain development. It can affect speech, social interactions, and even behavior.
Click here to learn about autism from the CDC.
Click here for more information on autism from the NIH.
Bache said Oli will need 24-hour protective care.
“He has to hold my hand all the time. It's definitely like one-on-one ongoing care,” his mother told FOX 5.
Bache, who attends behavioral therapy three times a week, speech therapy twice a week, and takes baseball, soccer and swimming lessons in between school, said he needs to find a business to support them. .
So, in November 2022, Oli's Cookies is here.
“I'll tell you, that's what it's all about to me. It's all about being able to do what I love and show the art of Ori to the world,” Bache said.
Laura and Oli exhibit and sell art at Blisful Seeds in Poway, a store that sells art by people on the spectrum.
The mother and son sell at farmers markets across the county, as well as online.
“I'm not a vegan, but Oli's cookies are delicious,” said regular customer Joshua “Buddy” Bigelop.
“I love talking to people about autism. I love telling our stories and hearing their stories. I love sharing our cookies,” Bache said. continued.
“There are people out there who want to thank me just for being there and just being a safe place. That means everything to me,” Bache added.
The Poway mother said her long-term goal is to one day hire people on the spectrum to work at Ori's Cookies.
Since the launch of Ollie's Cookies, Bache said: But now I have big dreams and I want to make them even bigger. Now I want to do great things in the community. ”
Oli's Cookies are also available at various farmers markets.
— Thursday at Scripps Ranch Farmers Market from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.
— Every Saturday at the Poway Farmers Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
— Cardiff Farmers Market most Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
— Every other Sunday at the Leucadia Farmers Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Click here to order Oli's Cookies online.
