After opening more than a dozen restaurants,Tom Landis came up with a unique idea for a new one. He wanted to create a place designed for people with special needs to work and succeed. That meant no fryer or knives and from there Howdy Handmade Ice Cream was born.
The Dallas ice cream shop is run mostly by 13 employees between ages 16 and 31 and all of them have special needs, including Down syndrome and autism.
Anne Marie Carrigan, a Howdy Homemade worker, told ABC News "like there's not a place for me in this world."
Business is booming and it’s got as much to do with the friendly staff as the sweet treats they sell.
“I think I’ve taught them how to work and they’ve taught me how to live,” Landis says.