Jackson, whose 15-year-old son is autistic, said people with disabilities are still capable of being active community members when given the opportunity. He believes Beyond Basic gives hope for his son’s future.
“The respect here in Summerville for our disability community is second to none,” Jackson said.
Five local restaurants participated in the restaurant tour: Coastal Coffee Roasters, La Chev 208, Laura of Summerville, The Kersey House, and The Odd Duck.
Teammates from Beyond Basic performed hospitality tasks, such as welcoming guests, bussing tables and assisting with some food prep. Throughout the year, teammates take part in an event training class that includes restaurant tours and hands-on preparation to build confidence. This year, 10 teammates participated, each accompanied by a volunteer.
“It’s an opportunity for teammates to have a little extra job skills in hospitality,” said Smith, “and practice that in a real-time setting.”
Guests were transported between each restaurant by a “celebrity” golf cart driver, including State Rep. Greg Ford and Gilbert + Lee Construction Executive Director of Operations Justin Lee. The tour ended with a small celebration at the Beyond Basic headquarters.
According to the 2024 American Community Survey census, there are approximately 12,834 adults with a cognitive disability between the ages 18 and 34 living in the Tri-county area. Needs for expanded resources continue to grow as caregivers seek the next phase of support care. Beyond Basic strives to keep its tuition prices at an affordable rate so cost is not a barrier. Still, not every family can afford its services.
“We’ve only raised our prices once in the last six years,” Smith said. “We want to be affordable, but we want to have a high-quality program, and that means high-quality staff. And we want to take care of our staff.”
There is currently a waitlist for the program. The organization is actively working on becoming a part of the state waiver support funding network, funded through Medicaid. Smith said they welcome any extra support they can find.
Dining and Cooking