By Jenifer Howard
On a weekday morning on Greenwich Avenue, Amie Slade greets regulars at Gregorys Coffee, ringing up orders and restocking displays. Across town, Dylan Shepard preps ingredients in the kitchen at Greenwich Country Club, while teammate Charlie Frasier ensures event spaces shine. At Stop & Shop, Rashadd Hill keeps carts moving and bottle returns tidy, greeting customers as he goes. And at Greenwich Dental Group, Nicole Cohade helps run the sterilization department — a job she has held for more than 20 years.
These are adults with disabilities who help make Greenwich a model for inclusive employment. With October being National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), it’s the perfect time to highlight the incredible work of Abilis, the Greenwich-based nonprofit providing services and supports for more than 800 individuals with disabilities and their families throughout Fairfield County.
Abilis’ Competitive Employment program helps create more inclusive workplaces and meaningful jobs that improve quality of life for everyone involved. Employment transforms lives — not just for individuals with disabilities, but also for their coworkers, managers, and the community at large. The impact is visible every day across Greenwich, where inclusive hiring has become part of the town’s fabric.
First recognized in 1945, NDEAM has grown into a nationwide effort to promote inclusion. In recent years, statewide and local leaders including Governor Ned Lamont, Senator Richard Blumenthal, and Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo have issued proclamations recognizing Abilis’ leadership in inclusive employment.
Abilis provides job training, internships, placement, and on-the-job coaching that connect its community members with roles at more than 100 local businesses — from cafés and retail counters to hospitals, clubs, and offices.
Abilis operates several of its own training sites, including The Café at Greenwich Library, Abilis Gardens & Gifts, The Abilis Café at its headquarters, and the Island Beach Concession during summer. In Stamford and Darien, Abilis runs Cafés at the Stamford Superior Courthouse, Darien Library, and Darien YMCA. It’s also a founding partner of Coffee for Good, where Abilis provides trainees, job coaching and employment placement.
Abilis also partners with Greenwich Hospital, Stamford Hospital, and the Darien YMCA on three Project SEARCH internship programs. These nine-month internship programs allow participants to rotate through different jobs to gain real-world experience and confidence.
“Our approach is straightforward,” said Kristy Hickman, director of Competitive Employment Services at Abilis. “We pair individual skills with real jobs. Inclusive hiring is good business. For employees with a disability, a job is more than a paycheck — it is independence, confidence and belonging.”
Feinsod Hardware in Old Greenwich has been hiring Abilis community members for more than a decade. Other Abilis community members are employed at The Bruce Museum, Home Depot, Stop & Shop, Gregorys Coffee, local dentist offices and restaurants, and the new Wegmans Food Market in Norwalk. “Having individuals with disabilities in meaningful jobs is a win-win for both the employee and the employer,” Hickman added.
At Greenwich Country Club, General Manager Keith Armstrong has championed inclusive hiring since 2022, employing five Abilis community members. Dylan Shepard, a Project SEARCH Greenwich Hospital graduate, works as a food-prep cook; Brayden Hone, also a Greenwich Hospital Project SEARCH graduate, assists with dining setups and events; and Charlie Frasier, a Project SEARCH Darien YMCA graduate, maintains the club’s facilities and was recently named Employee of the Quarter.
At Stop & Shop, Rashadd Hill works 25–30 hours a week and is known for his upbeat attitude, Rashadd was named Abilis Employee of the Year for 2025. Stop & Shop’s partnership with Abilis extends beyond Greenwich, employing individuals in Port Chester and Norwalk.
At Gregorys Coffee, inclusion is part of the company’s ethos. Gregorys employs Abilis community members in both their Greenwich and Darien locations.
At Greenwich Dental Group, Dr. David Zadik employs two Abilis community members: Nicole Cohade, who runs the sterilization department, and Alexandra Frumin, who manages hygiene packs for patients.
Thanks to Abilis and its community partners, inclusive employment opportunities are available right here in Greenwich — one cup of coffee, one meal, and one shift at a time.
Businesses interested in expanding inclusive hiring should reach out at abilis.us or hickman@abilis.us.
Jenifer Howard is a Greenwich resident and public relations professional, who works with tech, consumer product companies, sports, music and nonprofits through her agency J. Howard Public Relations (JHPR).
