Joel Wegener is a dad of 10 in the Cincinnati area that decided to buy an ice cream truck in April. He was inspired to do it after realizing that it may be a challenge for his two adult kids, Josh, 18, and Mary Kate, 21, to get job offers because they both have Down syndrome.  Joel said, “It started out as an idea to sell ice cream, now it’s so much bigger than that.”  Joel ended up buying the ice cream truck from another special needs family in Indiana before his wife came up with the name Special Neat Treats, in reference to their employees with special needs.

And it’s been a hit! So far they’ve sold close to 5,000 treats and have plans to expand their fleet of trucks.  Joel said, “Almost every time I go out, I find a family with special needs or with some connection,” “It’s just been an unbelievable journey.”

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