Connor Rodriguez, who has Down Syndrome, combined two of his greatest passions–baking and his two dogs Max and Scoob–into an extremely lucrative family business during the pandemic lockdown. Together with Marian and Fred from Rockaway Fifth Grade School in Queens, Connor experimented with all-natural recipes featuring pumpkin, peanut butter, cheddar cheese and banana flavors.
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Connor’s Story
Connor was born with bilateral incomplete cleft lip and palate. By 3 weeks, he required being fed through a tube as his mouth couldn’t produce sufficient suction to create suction and feed himself adequately. Since birth, he’s undergone 13 surgeries but that hasn’t stopped him from reaching his dreams!
Baking has long been one of Connor’s passions and as an outlet he created his own line of dog treats: Connor’s Canine Cookies. These “doggo cookies” have since become sold nationwide and become a source of immense pride for him. Additionally, Connor plays basketball for New York City Special Olympics and belongs to Wesleyan University men’s ice hockey team through Team Impact; an organization which connects children with disabilities with local collegiate sports teams.
Connor is the only playable character who retains their LED (except Kara, who removes hers during On the Run and Markus who removed his from an android junkyard in From the Dead). Often talking with Amanda inside of Zen Garden about his progress and overall view on things.
Connor’s Team
Connor has assembled an incredible team that shares his love, passion and perseverance to defy expectations and build a better world for all regardless of ability or disability. Together they continue to defy expectations and contribute towards creating a greater world for all.
Queens, NY resident Connor Rodriguez would often join his parents in the kitchen when baking was taking place, wanting to be as close as possible and give Max and Scoob some treats from his freshly made treats.
Connor’s Heroes was established to honor a preschooler who overcame 2-1/2 years of cancer treatment, and recognize those in his family who helped throughout. Today, this Richmond, Virginia nonprofit assists families coping with childhood cancer while funding community researchers as they fight it – the only foundation in Central Virginia which funds pediatric cancer research! Additionally, they established The Room of Possibilities at Children’s Hospital of Richmond to give hope, guidance, and support for cancer patients and their families.
Connor’s Mission
In his most successful route of the game, Connor stands alongside Markus as civil rights leader James gives a speech. Though Connor denies his existence as an android, he remains victimized by society’s division.
Depending on his dialogue choices, Connor can display various characteristics. From being sarcastic and literal to sensitive and emotional. Or sometimes just cold.
Connor’s mom says his favorite aspect of his business venture is seeing Max and Scoob enjoy their treats! Their cookies have been sold at local outdoor markets in Rockaway, and she hopes one day to expand it and open a storefront. In the meantime, Connor enjoys interacting with customers and building new skills through this process – giving his family much-needed joy during a period of pandemic isolation while providing valuable experience for his future including entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
Connor’s Products
Connor has combined his love of baking with his devotion to dogs into an unstoppable force to produce an assortment of tantalizing canine treats, from Pumpkin Biscuits to irresistible Cheese Chow. Each flavor was meticulously created to provide optimal nutrition to their canine companions.
Connor decided on familiar doggo shapes such as small paw prints and bones for his creations in hopes that Scoob and Max, two Labrador retriever mixes in his family, would appreciate them. And sure enough – both pups devoured his delicious treats!
Queens, New York-native Connor has promoted his “Made with Love & an Extra Chromosome” cookies by visiting local outdoor markets and holiday gift fairs, where customers have had the chance to interact with him while his mom and dad handle business matters. While his family hopes Connor may someday run the company on his own and provide more employment opportunities for people with disabilities, in the meantime they are grateful that it provides him with an outlet that helps him cope with pandemic lockdown while developing important skills.
