Nick's Shaved Ice Paradise Story

Nick Bussell was born in 1997. He was born with Down syndrome and was eventually diagnosed with autism.  From an early age, Nick's dad, Bruce, knew what the future had in store for Nick. Bruce was a vocational special education teacher in Carlsbad, New Mexico. He saw young people with developmental disabilities graduate from school only to end up sitting on the couch watching TV.

It was very difficult for most individuals, who are as moderately disabled as Nick, to find a job. Bruce knew the odds were against Nick.  In fact, over 80% of people with disabilities do not have a real minimum wage, or better, wage paying job. Bruce decided that if Nick was going to have a job and feel productive after he graduated, it was going to be up to him.

Nick was only 2 years old but Bruce put his plan onto place. He decided that when Nick graduated that he and Nick would run a shaved ice trailer. Since Nick would not graduate until he was 22, that gave Bruce a 20 year window to get it up and running.

It really was a simple plan. Bruce, and his wife Lea Ann, are teachers and didn't have much money so it would take a long time to save up for a trailer. In 2017, when Nick turned 20, Bruce had to get busy. He found a trailer, bought it, and started getting it ready for business, but that is when everything changed in a big way...........