This joyful coffee shop employs staff members with intellectual and developmental disabilities

A new coffee shop in New York lets its customers help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in every cup!

This is the first coffee shop by Café Joyeux, which is based in Europe.

They hire individuals with IDD, providing valuable training and employment opportunities and empowering them along the way.

It’s touching to see regular folks helping their neuro-diverse neighbors as humans find strength in community and meaningful work.

Cafe Joyeux treats all employees equally, whether they have autism or Down Syndrome.

As Rachael Barcelona said, this inclusive approach has transformed lives.

“I’ve been rejected so many times and told I was a burden because of my autism,” she said, describing the shock she had when someone offered her a job, “and I was going to get paid too!”

Café Joyeux was founded in France in response to the alarming fact that over 8 million people with IDD in the US face an 80% unemployment rate.

The coffee shop aims to combat this inequality by not only providing inclusive employment but also leading the way in promoting workplace inclusion more broadly.

The story starts on a sailing boat in Brittany, France, where Captain Yann Bucaille-Lanzerac, a successful entrepreneur, shares his passion for sailing with passengers of all abilities.

During a trip, Theo, a young man with Down Syndrome, asks Yann for a job. Yann hesitates, saying it’s complicated, leaving Theo silent.

This encounter sparks the creation of Café Joyeux .

Café Joyeux began in France in 2017, employing and training people with mental and cognitive disabilities.

It has since expanded to over 19 locations across Europe.

In early 2024, the first American Café Joyeux opened in New York City.

Bucaille-Lanrezac and his wife, Lydwine Bucaille, founders of Café Joyeux, employ 169 team members with disabilities in Europe, per France 24.

He sees the New York branch as an American project in a quintessentially American setting near Grand Central Station without intending to lecture Americans on the initiative.

“We got help from specialists in inclusion, neurodivergence, and cognitive disability, in particular, AHRC and Autism Speaks, which have been active in New York for decades and are helping us to support our employees,” explained the founder.

Bucaille-Lanrezac hired a non-disabled director and supervisors to manage a team of 14 staff members with autism, Down syndrome, and cognitive disabilities.

He aims to establish a presence in the fast-casual food market amid ongoing labor shortages post-Covid-19.

Peter Anderson Jr., one of the team members in his twenties, serves as a waiter, dishwasher, and barista.

He highlighted the limited job opportunities for individuals with disabilities elsewhere.

He stressed the significance of equal rights and fair treatment in the workplace.

Bucaille-Lanrezac is hopeful about his New York team’s potential to excel in a city known for its demanding clientele.

Café Joyeux in the US is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities.

They start by empowering their cafe-restaurant employees and reinvesting 100% of their profits to further this mission, both within and outside their cafes.

He believes they can provide excellent products and services.

Early supporters, like Giovana Mullins, have praised the coffee shop Café Joyeux for its welcoming atmosphere, contrasting it with impersonal service at large coffee chains in New York.

“As a customer walking in, even if you don’t know what this coffee shop is all about, you come in, and you feel the energy, and you feel the joy,” she said.

Benefits of hiring people with IDD

Hiring individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) benefits employers and their businesses.

Studies show that people with disabilities are safety-conscious, have fewer absences, are highly motivated, and show increased productivity, said Goodwill.

They also tend to stay longer and perform well across various tasks.

Furthermore, employing workers with disabilities helps create an inclusive workplace culture, which enhances public image and brand value.

Consumers prefer businesses that prioritize diversity, leading to increased attractiveness to employees, customers, and business partners.

“Businesses that embrace disability inclusion have found there is a positive correlation between their profitability, employee morale, and engagement. These businesses report lower turnover, better safety records, innovation, and higher productivity among their employees with disabilities,” said Shawna Berger, director of communications at the US Business Leadership Network.

She also said customer-facing companies gain from the loyalty of the significant demographic of 56.7 million Americans with disabilities.

Hiring workers with IDD offers numerous benefits to businesses, including financial advantages and legal protections.

Employers can deduct expenses to make facilities more accessible and may qualify for tax credits.

Employees with disabilities tend to have higher retention rates, leading to reduced turnover costs.

Research also indicates that businesses employing people with disabilities experience higher morale and productivity, contributing to increased profitability.

Additionally, individuals with disabilities often bring valuable problem-solving skills and adaptability to the workplace.

Tour inside the coffee shop, Café Joyeux, by watching the video below:

You can also follow this fantastic coffee shop through Instagram.