It all started with Carson

Welcome to Just a Taste of New Jersey.

Our story began the way many meaningful journeys do: with a mom worried about her son.

Our nine-year-old son, Carson, is on the autism spectrum. Through conversations with parents of adult children, we became aware of a painful reality that many families face, and one that could one day be Carson’s as well. When individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities turn 21, they often “fall off a cliff,” aging out of school-based programs and losing access to the structure, purpose, and opportunities to build on what they have learned.

After years, often decades, of therapy, education, and skill-building, too many adults are left without meaningful ways to put those hard-earned skills to use. Despite a strong desire and clear ability to work, more than 80% of adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities are unemployed, not because they lack capability, but because they lack access to real, inclusive work environments.

This reality is what sparked our mission, and continues to drive everything we do. What started as a personal concern soon became a purpose.

Through Carson’s Cookie Dough and Just a Taste of New Jersey, we set out to meet individuals exactly where they are and invite them into something meaningful: real work, in a real workplace, with real expectations and real pride. Our bakery and storefront are not training simulations, they are living, working spaces where individuals build skills, confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging. We aim to give people “just a taste” of what it feels like to be part of a team and to see themselves as capable contributors.

Along the way, something extraordinary happened. What began as one family’s hope grew into a full community - students, educators, job coaches, parents, customers, partners, and supporters, working together to help bridge the gap between what is and what could be… and should be. Together, we are showing that inclusive employment is not only possible, but powerful.

Today, our cookies are baked locally and shipped nationwide, and our storefront proudly features our signature products alongside thoughtfully chosen goods from other mission-driven brands. But the heart of our work remains the same: spotlighting the abilities of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities who not only can work, but want to work.

It is incredibly moving to watch our original hope and dream come to life every day in our little bakery. In the smiles, the confidence, the teamwork, and the pride, we see the future we are working toward.

Thank you for being part of our community and for helping us build a more inclusive world - one opportunity, and one cookie at a time.

At Just a Taste of New Jersey, we proudly serve our signature cookies alongside delicious baked goods from beloved local bakeries. But we’re more than just a bakery—we’re a community hub showcasing products crafted by local companies, many of which share our mission of employing and empowering the differently-abled.

Thank you for joining us on this journey to spread sweetness and inclusion, one bite at a time!