As told by Ashley in her own words:
Coffee, like any food or beverage, can be a ritual. I grew up in a household where we started our day with a freshly brewed pot of coffee. Whether you drank it black like my grandmother, with cream and brown sugar like my aunt; or a little bit of coffee with a lot of cream and sugar like my mother; it was treasured. Being blind I loved that rich, earthy aroma. Coffee also fueled my college years. I was able to attend college with support from the Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). I had an amazing DVR Counselor who helped me pay for my tuition, books, and assistive technology.
During my summer abroad in Italy, I fell in love with the culture of coffee and small cafés. I graduated during the recession of 2008. After months of applying for jobs in the greater Seattle area, I finally accepted an offer from Starbucks. I began as a barista with the intention of working my way up and I worked for the company for 13 years. Through company resources and training I became a barista trainer, a coffee master, and eventually a shift supervisor. The company afforded me several opportunities, including extended maternity leave and short-term disability pay when I had my son and moved to Alaska. Ultimately, I reconnected with DVR through the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired and learned about the Randolph-Sheppard Business Enterprise Program (BEP). I had always dreamed of owning my own café someday. DVR and BEP helped me to make that dream a reality.
Through vigorous testing and training, we assessed my skills, orientation and mobility needs. DVR helped me acquire the skills I needed to be a successful entrepreneur, and I am proud to be a Blind Licensed Vendor for the state of Alaska. My café and team have been serving the State building and courthouse in my community for over a year now. I am also proud to have been appointed by the governor to serve on the State Vocational Rehabilitation Committee as a business representative. I work with the committee to evaluate the success of DVR programs, ensure continuous improvement in service delivery, and serve on the Assistive Technology Subcommittee. Learn more about the Business Enterprise Program.