Autism Employment Network

03/14/2026

Go Zoe! 👏🏻

🍬 Meet Zoe.

Zoe is one of the incredible associates at SpectroDolce — and she makes a mean cake pop. 🎂🍭

But what you’re seeing here is about more than sweets.

It’s about opportunity.

At SpectroDolce, our associates are building real workplace skills, confidence, and experience for the careers that THEY want to pursue.

✨ And every sweet treat helps make that possible!

Every $10 spent at SpectroDolce funds ONE HOUR of employment for an associate in our workplace training program.

That means every waffle 🧇
every scoop 🍦
every piece of fudge 🍫
and every cake pop Zoe makes 🍭

helps create real job opportunities for neurodiverse individuals.

Everyone deserves the chance to thrive.

And Zoe? She’s doing exactly that. 💙

SpectroDolce — Sweets With a Mission.

(💙 If stories like Zoe’s make you smile, consider sharing this post to help spread our mission.)

👇 Drop Zoe some love in the comments!

02/19/2026

🎤 Keep the Love Flowing -After-Valentine’s Day Sing-Along! 🎶

Join us for a fun-filled karaoke afternoon with Band Together Pittsburgh at SpectroDolce Monroeville!

📅 Date: Saturday, February 21st
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 Location: SpectroDolce Monroeville, 711 Mall Circle Drive, Monroeville Mall

🍓 Enjoy sweet snacks and treats while singing your heart out! Whether you’re a shower-singer or a stage star, everyone’s welcome!

Bring your friends, bring your smiles, and let’s make it a musical celebration you won’t forget! 🎶💖

12/14/2025

It's a beautiful snowy ☃ Sunday, and it's quite chilly ❄️ ... but inside of our Monroeville store, it's warm and toasty! 🔥

Join us today from 1pm-3pm for an ice cream bar 🍨 (with all kinds of festive 🎄toppings), a craft, AND a photo 📸with Santa 🎅 all for only 💲5️⃣!

Kids, bring your lists with you -- only 1️⃣1️⃣ days until Christmas! 🎁

12/10/2025

Get ready to jingle & mingle! 🎄🎶 Join us this Thursday at SpectroDolce, Coast & Main, snd Pickle Parlor in the District at Monroeville Mall for the Jingle Crawl—your passport to festive vibes, sweet stops, and holiday fun all evening long!

Also, meet Robbie Mertz fresh off the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC championship title!

Support local businesses and autism inclusive employment opportunities. Get tickets at

Pittsburgh’s Most Unique Holiday Pop-Up Bar Crawl. 3 Locations: SpectroDolce, Pickle Parlor, & Coast & Main

10/07/2025

Walmart hasn’t said much publicly about its plans for Monroeville Mall. Rick Murray, owner of SpectroDolce Confectionery on the mall’s second floor, said, “The entire community has no idea what’s going on.” And his sales have dropped “drastically” since the news came out that Walmart bought the mall because, he said, people assume the mall has already closed. Mr. Murray is worried he will have to lay off his employees.

Our Founder and CEO Rick Murray was featured in the The New York Times nytimes, speaking out candidly about Walmart’s purchase of Monroeville Mall, which houses SpectroDolce Monroeville.

Mark our words: a solution will be found, and this will be a small stepping stone in the ongoing story of SpectroDolce.

Read more here 📰:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/business/walmart-shopping-malls.html?smid=url-share

04/23/2025

The second webinar in FISA's short webinar series, Breaking Barriers: Dialogues on Healthcare Access for People with Disabilities

12/04/2024

12/03/2024

It’s a day set aside to remember the organizations that make our community better and more inclusive. Today is the day to give to a local community organization. Consider The Autism Employment Network and the work we’re doing to help create a level playing field for our neurodivergent community members. Learn more at https://autismemploymentnetwork.com/ways-to-give/

11/14/2024

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is working on a report focused on barriers to health care for people with disabilities. As part of that effort, they are conducting a survey to understand the barriers that people with disabilities experience in accessing healthcare. Caregivers are also welcome to respond on behalf of the person(s) they care for. The GAO plans to include these stories in a report they are developing.

This is an excellent opportunity to share your experiences with policymakers.

The survey will be open until November 30, 2024. Please share with your networks!
Disability Lead , The Arc of Pennsylvania , Disability Rights Pennsylvania , Pennsylvania Health Law Project, Autism Connection of Pennsylvania, Disability Pride Pennsylvania

11/05/2024

New job opportunities at SpectroDolce in Monroeville, PA!

, part of the Autism Employment Network and Achieving True Self, Inc. is a retail candy, ice cream, waffle, and gift shop; as well as a short to medium-term employment opportunity designed to give individuals with a safe environment to learn new skills and develop work-ready career habits.

Essential functions of the role at SpectroDolce include customer facing interactions and food preparation, as well as other duties like packaging confections or preparing items for shipment. Our main store location is in Monroeville Mall.

We currently have openings for new associates! 🤩 If you, or someone you know might be a fit for our unique program, please send an email to [email protected]. These openings will not last long!

10/01/2024

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)! Although the work to support individuals to obtain and maintain competitive and integrated employment continues all year round, NDEAM presents an opportunity for us all to recognize, celebrate, and confirm our commitment to ensuring individuals with disabilities have access to employment opportunities.