I don’t eat a lot of candy, but lately I have become a regular at Mini Man Monkey Brains candy store. Located in the heart of Skokie, Mini Man Monkey Brains is not your average candy store.

Special education teacher and autism expert Gloria Iverson wanted to help special needs youth, so she and her husband opened the business to provide vocational training and jobs to special needs youngsters, especially ones on the autism spectrum. Relying on their experience with candy, Gloria and Jim opened Mini Man Monkey Brains in 2014. It is a professional and personal endeavor, as son Nicholas is on the autism spectrum.

To the casual patron, Mini Monkey Brains is a fun store, filled with all sorts of candy. All genres of music softly fill the air as you check out all the sweet treats. That’s reason enough for most to become happy customers.

Regulars know the real goal is having people on the autism spectrum develop occupational skills, hopefully leading to greater independence. Since opening, Mini Monkey Brains has worked with more than a dozen organizations and more than 100 young people with special needs.

Since I don’t eat much candy, I usually give my purchases to the older folks in my building. They enjoy it, and it gives me reasons to visit Mini Monkey Brains on a regular basis.

Manager Nicholas is usually there happily greeting all. The candy-lined walls remind me of the corner stores of my youth. It’s always a fun stop at Mini Man Monkey Brains. As April is National Autism Awareness Month, it is the best time to highlight Mini Man Monkey Brains, but it’s always a good time to visit it.

— John Wroblewski, online writer