As Ben Tate proudly shows off the brightly coloured tie dye T-shirts he has created for his business, a large grin spreads across his face.

The 23-year-old has some favourite colour combinations: black and red, or orange and pink and yellow, or purple for his women's T-shirts.

Ben Tate started his business B T Design in 2021 and is one of the many vendors showcasing their wares at Casita in Greerton.

But, Casita is no ordinary store, it is an all-inclusive marketplace and training ground for people with disabilities. The store and education centre is celebrating its first birthday.

Ben Tate has Down syndrome and suffered a stroke at age 14. He started his business with the help of family after finding there were limited employment opportunities in the community.

Ben Tate and his mum Marie made a few T-shirts together at first, now he creates them on his own.

He makes around 30 a week, and creates custom designs on request as well.

Marie says if her son knows the person who has placed an order, he picks colours he know they'll love. If Ben didn't have his business, Marie says 'he probably wouldn't be doing anything”.

'We're grateful to be working in conjunction with Casita,” says Marie. 'The whole ethos of the store is being inclusive and creating opportunities, so that everybody can have purpose.”

Before the Covid outbreak Ben Tate would spend two days weekly in the store as well.

'The opportunity of being able to come to Casita provides so many good friendships,” says Marie.

Casita store manager Ben Guild agrees. 'It's really cool to see people like Ben Tate get the chance to be around people with similar interests.”

Ben Guild says for those volunteering in-store skills they can learn include money handling, dealing with stock as well as socialisation. 'It's about getting rid of the barriers as much as possible for people to have a crack at something.”

Ben Guild says they've worked with around 40 people with disabilities in the last year and had around 40 small businesses selling items through the store. The organisation was started six years ago by teacher Charrissa Taylor-Gaskell.

She'd see a lot of high functioning students in the special needs department have nothing to go to after finishing school.

For Ben Guild, a highlight has been seeing how people on work experience have increased their math skills or are no longer shy and anxious around people. 'It's been awesome.”

Casita's ethos is skills for life, life with purpose – and the store is proving that and much more for those involved. Casita is at 1350 Cameron Rd.