Welcome to Special Sweets Bakery– Delicious Cupcakes made by a diverse group of talented individuals with Autism and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Our team works side by side with their dedicated ABA/Life Skills instructors, creating not only sweet treats-but also opportunities, growth, and inclusion.

Special Sweets Bakery is comprised of participants with varying abilities working alongside their ABA/Life Skills instructors, special educators and volunteers. With these participants aging out of high school at the age of 22 years old, coupled with the unemployment rate for these individuals being over 80%, we
decided to put out baking skills to work and create a business. Building on the students’ love for baking, cultivated during their Life Skills classes, we established the cupcakery in their teacher’s kitchen in Westbury, New York in 2021.

In August of 2022, Nassau BOCES welcomed Special Sweets Bakery to the Farber Administrative Center in Garden City, New York, giving them access to a fully functional commercial kitchen and cafeteria. In addition to the upgrade in facilities, Nassau BOCES partnered Special Sweets Bakery with Special Education and Culinary Arts students to provide baking and cooking training as part of BOCES workforce program.  Special Sweets Bakery is now recognized as one of Nassau BOCES Worksite Partners. They currently support over 40 individuals weekly.  Special Sweets Bakery also offers community baking and cooking classes to the public under the guidance of an Executive Chef.

Special Sweets Bakery features cupcakes that come in a variety of flavors that can be ordered gluten free, vegan, dairy free and nut free.  Assorted cookies, muffins, banana bread, cornbread and pumpkin bread are also some of the other special sweets that our individuals make.  Orders are received and processed through our website, in-person, doordash and on social media including Facebook and Instagram.  Delivery is available locally, for birthday parties, special occasions, holidays, corporate events, corporate gift giving and fundraising events.  Some of our clients include Nordstrom, Snapology, Sephora, Nassau Police Department, NSASA, and POP.Earth.  Through our “Cupcakes with a Cause” initiative, we donate weekly to The Inn in Hempstead, New York as well as the Westbury Food Pantry in Westbury, New York.

All revenues and funding are invested back into our program.  Our vision is to grow our bakery to be able to offer more concentrated training and career opportunities.  One of our goals is to open a cupcake café and serve our customers in person while providing valuable hospitality-industry training.  This would allow for greater vocational training and employment opportunities for many more individuals.  Operating under our non-profit, “A Special Place For Me”, our mission is to enrich and empower individuals with Autism and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to reach their highest potential through viable work and social opportunities.

With sincere gratitude, we thank you for your heartfelt support! 

A Special Place For Me is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.