Jupiter chocolate shop that employs people on autism spectrum reopens

After about a year of being closed because of the pandemic, a special Jupiter business that employs adults on the autism spectrum is back open and returning some normalcy into the lives of those who work there.

*ESPECIALL* THOSE WITHSPECIAL NEEDS WHO CANCOMPREHEND THE BIG CHANGES INTHEIR DAY TO DAY LIVES.

NEWTONIGHT... IN THE REBOUNDSOUTH FLORIDA, WPTVNEWSCHANNEL 5'S ERICA RAKOWSHOWS US A*SPECIA* JUPITERBUSINESS THAT EMPLOYS THOSEWITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

ITS BACKOPEN RETURNING SOME NORMALCYINTO THE LIVES OF THOSE ON THEAUTISM SPECTRUPKG: OUTSIDE..

THE RED NEONLIGHT IS ONCE AGAINILLUMINATED..

((PICTUREATTACHED OF STUDENTS OUT FRONTWITH SIGN)) NATS OF VALERIEAND SON INSIDE..

THE MIXINGAND MEASURING AT THE CHOCOLASPECTRUM HAS RESUMED.

VALERIHERSKOWITZ, OWNER OF THECHOCOLATE SPECTRUM 23:06BASICALLY, MY CUSTOMERS WERESTARTING TO COMPLAIN AND THEYSAID HOW COME YOUEVERYBODY ELSE IS AND I SAIDYOU KNOW, ITS TIME AND WE CANDO IT SAFELY NOW VALERIEHERSKOWITZ AND HER SON BLAKEARE HAPPY TO BE BACK IN THISSPACE..

A SPECIAL PLACE SHEOPENED 5 YEARS AGO AFTERSEEING THE LACK OF WOROPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WITHAUTISM LIKE BLAKE.

NO ONECOULD'VE IMAGINED THAT A FEWYEARS IN..

A PANDEMIC WOULDSHUT THINGS DOWN..

AND FOR ANENTIRE YEAR.

21:29 BECAUSE OURSHOP IS SO SMALL, WE REALLCOULDNDO IT SAFELY IN TERMS OFSOCIAL DISTANCING EVEN WITHMASKS NATS BUT AS OF THISWEEK-- THE SHOP IS OPEN AGAINFOR PEOPLE TO GET DELICIOUSTRUFFLES, CHOCOLATES, EASTERBUNNIES AND MORE.

((CAN USEONE OF THE PICS ATTACHED OFEASTER TREATS IF YOU22:51 IM HAVING ALL MY STAFFGET VACCINATED SO I FEEL ALITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE PLUSWE PUT UP THE BARRIERS, THEPLEXIGLASS GLASS BARRIERS SOFROM A CUSTOMER PERSPECTIVE WEHAVE THAT PROTECTION VALERIESAYS COME IN..

OR ORDER FOCURBSIDE PICK UP..

NATSWHICHEVER WAY-- YOU'RESUPPORTING THIS COMBINED LABOF LOVE-- CHOCOLATE MAKING ANDHELPING INDIVIDUALS WITHSPECIAL NEEDS.

26:22 WE REALNEED THE SALES TO STAY OPEN,THERES NO DOUBT ESPECIALBECAUSE OUR OTHER REVENUESTREAMS HAVE NOT RETURNED YETSO WE ARE DOING EASTER THISWEEK ALTHOUGH STILL MASKED..SMILES FOR THOSE ON THESPECTRUM..

AS THEY'RE ABLE TOSLOWLY REBOUND FROM THEFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC.

INJUPITER, ER, WPTV NEWSCHANNEYOU CAN VISIT THE CHOCOLATESPECTRUM IN THE JUPITER WEPLAZA LOCATED ON INDIANTOWNROAD.

THEY DO STILL HAVEMODIFIED HOURS AND LIMITEDPROGRAMS. CLICK ON THE STORYON WPTV.COM TO FIND A LINK TOTHEIR WEBSITE WITH MOREINFORMATION ON THE RE-OPEN