Cookies for a cause

Youth on the autism spectrum cut their teeth on retail work at cookie stall under social enterprise bakery Crunchy Teeth

- Elisa Chia Correspondent

For most young adults, manning a cookie stall in a mall may be a straightforward job. But for Mr Stephen Tan, 22, Mr Tan Cher Xuan, 27, and Miss Tan Qiao Juan, 23, it represents a bold step out of their comfort zones.

All three have autism, and recently staffed popup stalls at 313@somerset in Orchard Road in January and Northpoint City in Yishun in March.

For individuals on the autism spectrum, retail work can be daunting. Many communicate non-verbally or with limited speech, and face heightened sensory sensitivities amid stimuli such as bright lights, constant noise, moving crowds and spontaneous customer interactions. They thrive in predictable, gently paced environments, a far cry from the bustle of a typical mall.

The trio are trainees with Dignity of Work, a collaborative programme between nonprofit St Andrew's Autism Centre and social enterprise bakery Crunchy Teeth. The programme provides employment pathways for individuals with autism aged 18 and above.

Crunchy Teeth was founded in 2019 by four mothers of children on the autism spectrum.

Open employment can be challenging for individuals with moderate to severe autism due to their varied support needs. Crunchy Teeth therefore serves as a bridge between school and the workplace. It offers structured training, baking exposure and a supportive environment where trainees can build confidence, work readiness and vocational skills.

Its collaboration with St Andrew's Autism Centre under the Dignity of Work programme began in November 2025.

For the first time, Crunchy Teeth has expanded its focus beyond baking and packing to include retail experience in bustling malls.

While the bakery has previously operated popup stalls, these were largely held in smaller, more contained settings such as schools and corporate offices.