Press Releases

Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (NY-19), Chairman of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development, today announced Iva Walsh, owner of Maeve’s Place in Phoenicia has accepted his invitation to testify before a House Small Business Committee hearing. The hearing will explore how Congress can help break down employment & entrepreneurial barriers for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities.

The hearing will start at 10am on Tuesday and can be streamed here.

Iva Walsh was motivated by her daughter Maeve's experience with Down syndrome to open a coffee shop in 2018, with the goal of providing a safe learning environment for her daughter once she aged out of school. Today, the business works with the Arc Greater Hudson Valley to provide employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities.

Rep. Molinaro said, "Nearly 80% of individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities are unemployed. It’s a stunning stat and unacceptable. We need to ‘Think DIFFERENTLY’ and break down barriers so every person of every ability is able to access meaningful employment & entrepreneurial opportunities. Iva Walsh developed a tremendous model with Maeve’s Place and I’m excited to have her share her expertise in Washington this week.”

Iva Walsh said, "Our dream is to provide employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and all different abilities. We are a part of the culture where diversity is not just appreciated, it's celebrated. With the proper reforms, advocating for knowledge on the situation, and persistence from small businesses, I believe we can help every working age person with intellectual and developmental disabilities find meaningful employment."

In 2015, Rep. Molinaro launched the ‘Think DIFFERENTLY’ initiative, which aims to break down barriers for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. In Congress, Rep. Molinaro has built on the effort by crafting a package of bipartisan legislation.