European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 5, 1980, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Manager Bob Robey Center with dishwasher Giles Williams salad chef Mary Stutts. Kentucky Deli that deals in Hope by Nancy Shulins associated press troll into pinocchio s Deli in Owensboro ky., during the noon Rush and you see fresh Sand Wiches steaming soups and Crisp salads. Take a closer look and you Sec Hope. It s not the food the service nor the atmosphere that sets the restaurant apart. It s the dishwasher who has Down s syndrome the Busboy whose brain has been dam aged and the Sandwich chef who Only recently has been Able to look her customers in the Eye. For the nine mentally and physically handicapped people who work there pinocchio s Deli is More than a restaurant. It s an ambitious Experiment in Mains dreaming hat seems to be working. The cafeteria style restaurant with its Green and White outdoor palio decor belongs to the Owensboro Council for the mentally retarded a group of 400 parents Consumers and business people. The services of the nonprofit Council used to be lined to sheltered workshops and preschool programs. But recently its members decided to aim higher. We decided to put our Money where our Mouths were says Terry Brownson who recently stepped Down As inc group s exc Culive director. We decided to go into the restaurant  Brownson say the Experiment began with a co worker s brainstorm to open an cat cry staffed primarily by handicapped workers. Since the dream became Mcalily a year ago says Brownson pinocchio s Deli has changed More than its menu. He says it has changed people s lives. Giles Williams the restaurant s 23-year-old dishwasher is so Happy sometimes that his Joy tends to spill Over like the soapy water in the mop bucket he totes. Not Long ago Brownson says Williams was frightened and withdrawn. He rarely talked and when he did he mumbled. He lacked social skills and his appearance and Hygiene were below  Williams who grew up without Benefit of special education suffers from Down s syndrome a congenital disorder marked by retardation. His writing skills consist of signing his paycheck and his Reading ability is limited to recognizing signs warning of potential dangers. These Days Williams reports for work in inc starched apron that is his uniform. He s looking out for himself now Brownson  s so confident he s almost  Williams is not the Only Success Story being written at pinocchio s Deli. There s Cecilia Bender a 22-year-old Sandwich maker who drives her own car to work and Larry Hill a 32year-old Busboy whose previous occupation gave him a daily dose of frustration. Hill who suffered brain damage at birth impairing his coordination used to work on an Assembly line at a sheltered workshop. What do we do for people like Larry Brownson says. We Tell them to sit Down and use their hand Eye coordination inc very part that has been  the frustrations of people like Hill led to the birth of pinocchio a says Brownson who also though about inc. Handicapped people who had graduated from sheltered workshops to restaurant jobs. Over the past two years 90 percent of our place ments were in inc food service  he says. 4 realized that if we were to train people ourselves the placement Rale could be even higher. And when you look at the food Industry you Sec that thursday june 5, 1980 Dailis Magazine it s full of students and transients. The Biggot problem is turnover and managers arc looking for reliable people who la Mick with a  Brownsun look the idea to the Council s Board of directors. Do you  think there s Chou a sympathy for the  to keep a Rostau r. More relaxed a far As profits Are concerned. Robey says the pressure k definitely on when in conies to cleanliness appearance and strike. We Don t make exceptions and we let each supervisor supervise As he wants. We want our trainees to know that once they leave Here not everybody is going to be Sweet and Nice All the time. And when the tension builds up and people get frustrated they handle it just like employees anywhere they go to the bathroom and stay there until they Cool  that May Well be. But when asked about his Job Giles Williams does t talk about tension or frustration. He talks about feeling Happy i like washing dishes sweep ing the door and  then his happiness spills Over and he grabs Robey in a joyous hug. A know something he says. I love it  the stars and stripes Page 13