“I want to pursue stuff in life and I will not let autism get in the way of making me achieve my dreams,” said 19-year-old TOPS Shop employee Zachary Paikoff, writes Matteo Iadonisi for 6abc.com.

Paikoff and his brother, Ezra sell Penncrest High merchandise at the TOPS Shop. It is run by current and former Penncrest High students out of the Game on State arcade in Media.

The brothers came to the TOPS shop through Transition Programs for Rose Tree Media School District, which partners with community businesses to expose their students to the working world.

Game on State wanted to hire those with special needs when it opened last year.

The idea to focus on special needs employees at the arcade/candy shop sprouted during the pandemic when co-owner Aimee Rubin saw her son struggling to find a job because of minor neurological challenges.

“I found that there was a big hole between the ages of 18-21 for kids who weren’t necessarily taking the direct path to college or trade school,” said Rubin. “We kind of became passionate about creating an environment that used customized and supported employment for individuals with special needs.”

Read more at  6abc.com about Zachary and Ezra Paikoff.