Fedcap’s TACT Partners with Tao Group Hospitality to a Launch Culinary Training Program in New York City to Expand Pathways for Neurodivergent Talent

‍New York, NY —Fedcap today announced the launch of a new Teaching the Autism Community Trades culinary workforce training program in New York City, designed specifically for neurodivergent individuals. The program will launch this summer and will be based at Civic Hall—The Bernard Goldstein Center at Union Square.

With over a decade of demonstrated impact, TACT delivers a strength-based approach tailored to neurodivergent learners through its innovative individual based competency model. The New York City culinary program marks a targeted expansion into a high-demand field, creating accessible routes to employment and sustained career growth.

The program leverages its industry‑recognized culinary training platform and a hybrid model that supports both immediate workforce entry and long‑term advancement. Tao Group Hospitality will support the inaugural cohort through internship placements, curriculum input aligned with real‑world kitchen operations, and mentorship that provides exposure to high‑performance hospitality environments. Tao Group Hospitality has been a long-standing supporter of autism awareness and inclusion, and was one of the first hospitality groups to implement sensory inclusion training across its venues, alongside more than a decade of workforce development initiatives and partnerships with organizations such as KultureCity and Eden II.

Participants will begin with an accelerated roughly 16-week training phase focused on foundational culinary skills, core kitchen competencies, and workplace readiness. This initial phase enables participants to quickly access employment opportunities. In addition to immediate job placement, graduates will also have the option to seamlessly transition into Fedcap’s Apex Technical School’s 600-hour accredited culinary program, creating a comprehensive earn-and-learn pipeline.

“This is exactly the kind of partnership that allows us to scale what works,” said Christine McMahon, President and CEO of Fedcap. “TACT has proven that an individualized competency-based, employer-aligned model can break down barriers to employment for neurodivergent individuals. Expanding into New York City—alongside a leading hospitality partner like TAO Group Hospitality—creates a powerful pipeline into one of the city’s most dynamic industries and demonstrates how this model can scale nationally.”

“Culinary training represents an important and often overlooked pathway for the individuals we serve,” said Becky Mershon, President of TACT. “This program, and great partners like Tao Group Hospitality and Mitsubishi Electric, opens doors to meaningful, hands-on careers where our students can thrive. By combining foundational training with real-world experience, we are helping individuals build confidence, develop critical skills, and access long-term opportunities in the workforce.”

“This program is about creating real pathways into the kitchen for individuals on the autism spectrum,” said Chef Ralph Scamardella, Chief Culinary Officer of Tao Group Hospitality. “Through hands-on training and mentorship, we’re helping participants build the skills and confidence needed to succeed in a professional kitchen. It’s something we’ve been committed to for years, and we’re proud to keep expanding that work.”

"The Fedcap Group is a valued member of Easterseals’ national network of 70 Affiliates, which regularly demonstrate that inclusion is the ultimate catalyst for innovation,” said Kendra Davenport, President and Chief Executive Officer of Easterseals. “By uniting missions in partnership, we are breaking down barriers to economic mobility and redesigning the marketplace to truly reflect the diversity of the human experience. Accessibility is no longer an afterthought."

“At Tao Group Hospitality, our Tao Cares initiatives are rooted in creating meaningful impact within the communities we serve,” said Judy Tepperberg, SVP of People Practices & Community Affairs at Tao Group Hospitality. “This partnership is a natural extension of that commitment, bringing together accessibility, education and workforce development to support individuals on the autism spectrum. We’re proud to continue building programs that foster inclusion both inside our venues and beyond.”

This expansion is made possible through a newly secured grant from Mitsubishi Electric, making the program free to participants. Easterseals New York will support recruitment efforts, helping connect individuals to training and career pathways in the culinary and hospitality sectors.

Founded to address the more than 90 percent unemployment rate among individuals with autism, TACT provides neurodivergent students with the credentials and skills required for sustainable careers in the skilled trades. Since its inception, the organization has served 5,669 students and reached an 83% placement rate in its career track program. The launch of the TACT culinary program in New York City further advances Fedcap’s integrated approach across education, workforce development, and economic mobility—ensuring that individuals facing barriers have access to training that leads directly to opportunity.