Dunkin' Donuts Employee Dances with Autistic Customer, Mom Says 'He Made My Son So Happy'
A Dunkin’ Donuts employee made an autistic customer’s day with the help of Lady Gaga.
Earlier this month, Donald Simon, 26, who is autistic and nonverbal, visited the coffee company’s Staten Island, New York location for a sweet bite and a cold drink.
There, with his aid Angela Jasmine, Simon was approached by barista Bryan Lara, who is known for going out of his way to talk to his customers.
After learning of Simon’s inability to speak, Lara tried another method of communication — dancing to Gaga’s hit “Paparazzi.”
In a video shared to Instagram by Simon’s mom Donna Maxon, Simon can be seen mimicking Lara by raising his hands and smiling.
“Most people would not pay attention to Donald as soon as they realize he is unable to communicate, but Bryan figured out a way to communicate without words and it is very touching to me that he made my son so happy,” Maxon tells PEOPLE.
A post shared by Donna Maxon (@midlerontheroof) on Jan 4, 2019 at 4:28pm PST
Maxon went on to explain that due to Simon’s disorder, making friends hasn’t been easy.
“Nonverbal people don’t have many friends and I was so touched to see how this stranger worked so hard to become friends with my son,” Maxon shared.
“Bryan has a heart of gold and deserves praises for his ongoing acts of human kindness,” Maxon continued.
For Lara, getting to know his customers is a part of his daily routine.
“I know most people’s names and their drink orders,” Lara told Yahoo Lifestyle.
“I am always dancing, and when I saw Donald smile, it was a great feeling,” Lara told the outlet. “I love my customers so much.”
Maxon hopes to meet Lara in person, to thank him for his heartwarming gesture.
“The world would be such a better place if there were more people like him,” Maxon tells PEOPLE.
