Students Tour LI Bakery That Empowers Special Needs Employees

SAG HARBOR, NY – It was a lesson on the celebration of diversity and inclusiveness recently as special education students from Pierson Middle School met the owner of South Fork Bakery, whose mission is to provide meaningful employment to those with special needs.

On Tuesday, the students met with Shirley Ruch, the owner of the business, as well as some of the employees.

South Fork Bakery, which operates out of Scoville Hall in Amagansett, is founded on the neeed to build meaningful employment opportunities for adults with disabilities on the South Fork, according to Ruch.

Ruch, a speech and language pathologist practicing for more than 30 years with a private practice in Sag Harbor, specializes in working with children with autism. When Ruch realized many of her former students, after graduating college or aging out of high school, were facing a common issue of finding employment, she founded South Fork Bakery in 2016. In 2018, the bakery became a non-profit orgnaization.

"South Fork Bakery also provides job skill training and support to build independence and confidence. Just as importantly, we provide a place where everyone feels welcome, valuable, capable and happy among friends," she told Patch in a previous interview. "We are proud to say our employees have taken these skills and gone on to employment in the restaurant industry. As the only business on the East End which employs and trains adults with developmental disabilities such as autism, autism spectrum, learning disabilities and Down Syndrome, South Fork Bakery directly changes lives."

The students who met with Ruch this week saw horizons broadened, all agreed.

“The students were incredibly excited for this trip,” explained trip supervisor and Sag Harbor District occupational therapist Tracy Evans. “This was a wonderful opportunity for our students to meet with and observe other young adults living with special needs and how they've found success and happiness working in an environment that supports and celebrates their differences.”

The students embarked on a private tour of the packaging room, kitchen and storage room led by Ruch.

During the tour, Ruch explained the process of making the delicious baked goods, as well as the mission and purpose of South Fork Bakery.

Currently, there are 16 adults with special needs who have found a community in South Fork Bakery, including a Pierson alum who has been with the bakery since Day 1, she said. The bakery provides its products to more than 50 local stores, farm stands, farmers’ markets, and festivals from Montauk to Syosset.

Students asked questions and took a "snack break" with chocolate brownies, mint brownies and blondies provided by Ruch.

“I believe as a result of this trip the students felt a sense of belonging — and perhaps a sense of worth,” said Evans.

Sag Harbor UFSD special education teachers Megan Pastier and Justin Clinton, teaching assistants Erin White and Kendell Thommen, and physical therapist Megan Lui all worked with Evans to put together the excursion.

"Thanks to Ruch, the field trip offered students a glance into an environment where they could see others feel respected for who they are and valued for their contributions," the district said.