Joe Steffy dumps the kernels into a large, black and silver kettle. He quickly starts stirring with a large, wooden spoon. After dumping the now fully popped kettle corn kernels on a cooling rack, Steffy lives up to his nickname, “Poppin Joe,” and carries the kettle corn inside his rural Louisburg home.

He meticulously places the labels on each bag and then scoops the popcorn, and measures and seals each bag.

The culmination of no more than 10 minutes is the basis of Steffy’s business, Poppin’ Joe’s Kettle Korn. What may seem like an ordinary home-based business for some, is a triumph for Steffy, 21, who has Down’s Syndrome and Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

The disorders have hindered Steffy’s cognitive abilities, Steffy’s parents Ray and Janet Steffy said, but not his desire to work.

Through the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services and schools, young adults like Joe Steffy have services available to them to prepare for the transition from high school to the working world, Ray Steffy said. But the high school Joe Steffy attended didn’t think a plan was necessary because they said he would most likely spend much of his life living in a group home, not working.

But Ray and Janet Steffy saw more than that for their son.

“Joe has a mind of his own and he loves to be kept busy,” Janet Steffy said.

Through the help of Dave Hammis, a disability employment consultant from Ohio, the Steffys found assistance in starting the business in April 2005.

The Steffys worked to obtain grants from the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation and the Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS) through the Social Security Administration.

“Social Security is willing to put up money (for those on disability) to start their own business in hopes they go off Social Security,” Ray Steffy said.

Since then, The Steffys have worked with their son to help him learn each task of the business. And now, when they are making batches of corn, whether it be cheddar, caramel or traditional kettle corn, Joe knows what he likes to do.

“This is Joe’s business,” Ray Steffy said.

Because of the success of Poppin’ Joe’s, Joe Steffy was chosen as the Kansas delegate to attend the Social Security Beneficiary Summit earlier this month in Atlanta.

“Joe, from the standpoint of people there, was cognitively one of the most severe there,” Ray Steffy said.

“But they wanted him there because of the success he’s had with the (PASS) program,” Janet Steffy said.

Not only has Joe Steffy had success learning usable work skills through his business, he’s also made a little money in the process.

Five area businesses agreed to carry Poppin’ Joe’s Kettle Corn — Harvest Corners-Phillips 66 service station, A Cup Above and Once Upon A Time, all in Louisburg; the Coffee Hut at Olathe Medical Center in Olathe; and the BP gas station in Cleveland, Mo.

Ray Steffy said his son takes pride in restocking the shelves at the places his kettle corn is sold. Joe fills the shelves, brings the merchandise to the front and receives the payment from each business. As Joe leaves each store, Ray Steffy said, he puts the money in his pocket and goes out the door with a big smile on his face.

“We’re building a community where Joe belongs and has value,” Janet Steffy said. “That is just a huge force that drives us.”

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