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“ It was depressing and sad and awful . They would basically be relegated to the basement doing tasks such as wiping down cable wires with alcohol .”
Kattouf says it seemed like madeup work , and none of the people involved were engaging with the students or stimulating them . Miller says the students would act out with attention-seeking behavior to get engagement . “ This can ’ t be our kids ’ future ,” Kattouf says .
Prior tomaking bath products , the pair tried creating a hydroponic greenhouse , but found it hard to control . It was then they turned to producing lavender bath salts . Miller and Kattouf quickly realized how much their sons enjoyed putting them together . In 2016 , Beloved Bath was born .
At first ,“ We weren ’ t thinking ‘ job ,’” says Miller . “ We started off giving it to friends , but began to look at packaging .” Kattouf says they started moving into soaps and body butters before delving into a whole line of products that includes sugar scrubs and candles .
Miller and Kattouf determine the tasks that individual employees enjoy doing the most , such as making the products , mixing or packaging , and assign them those jobs . Justin ’ s favorite thing to do is put the warning sticker on the bottom of the candles , but he also enjoys pouring the soap , while John likes being involved in the more creative side of the products — adding the ingredients , mixing them together and putting in the fragrances . “ I think what we found isthat it is agreat vocation for people with autism ,” Miller says .
She says the two young men are happy being around each other , which Kattouf notes breaks the stereotype that people diagnosed with profound autism are not interested in interacting with others . “ I think they enjoy being together even if they ’ re working on different tasks ,” Kattouf says .
“ It ’ s very task-oriented , it ’ s very repetitive and it ’ s very teachable ,” Kattouf adds .
For employees who have trouble with reading instructions , the pair provide the information , as well as schedules , in picture form . Kattouf and Miller currently work with two schools , Garden Academy in West Orange and Somerset Hills Learning Institute , to help train students with autism to create the products .
AGROWING PRESENCE
Since the pandemic , Miller and Kattouf have had their employees create and package items at their homes — the space they work in is small — but they ’ re working on providing more room . The business has moved out of Kattouf ’ s basement and into a bigger space with eight workstations in Maplewood , and they hope to have everything ready for employees this month .
A bigger space means more than one person can work on ajob at a time , schools will be able to bring in students and their employees can
come with their job coaches , who are typically provided by the employee ’ s day program or privately hired by the family .
Kattouf and Miller say customers are beyond supportive of their mission , but come back again and again because their products are of good quality . “ It ’ s validating because we don ’ t want your sympathy , we don ’ t want your pity ,” Miller says . “ We ’ re doing a great job and making great things . When you ’ re buying from us , we ’ re giving somebody a chance and meaningful employment .”
Employee Kelly Carpenter , 24 , says that Miller and Kattouf have fostered a wonderful work environment while understanding what their employees need . Employed at Beloved Bath for two years , she says that employees on the spectrum are taught how to complete tasks based on the different ways they learn .
“ I feel like too many people look at autism one way , where they think it ’ s the same for everybody . It ’ s not ,” Carpenter says . “ It ’ s very diverse , and everyone on the spectrum acts differently . There ’ s no one set way to be autistic .
“ I wish there were more places like Beloved Bath who are as understanding and as willing to give people who are on the spectrum jobs because they deserve it ,” she says . “ They deserve to work just as much as anyone else .” ■
Beloved Bath products are available online and at Perch , 9Highland Place , Maplewood .
MILLBURN & SHORT HILLS MAGAZINE MAY 2021
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