Autism is more common than you think. One in thirty-one kids in the U.S under the age of eight is diagnosed with autism. Likewise, one in forty five adults of the country is autistic. Neurodivergent people often face difficulty in finding employment across all sectors— thanks to their social communication difficulty and sensory overload.
However, a New York city cafe set an example for the whole city and the country. Cafe Joyeux, located in East Manhattan, broke the barrier by hiring neurodivergent people, unlocking their extraordinary minds and making a real difference. Opened in 2023 at Lexington Avenue, the cafe has several autistic employees, who show their unique abilities, big hearts, and unmatched dedication proving they are just as capable as everyone else.
The Autism Awareness Day falls on April 2 every year— it creates awareness about the intellectual and learning disability. The symptoms are common all round the world— from New York, New Mexico to New Delhi. CBS News covered a story about the cafe’s innovative approach last year, putting the spotlight where it counts. During the interview, Rachel Barcellona, one of the employees of the cafe, talked about her struggle and how the cafe job was a life-changing experience,
” I’ve been rejected so many times and told I was a burden because of my autism,” said Rachel. The 28-year-old discovered her learning disability at three years old. Her autism struggle seemed like a speed bump in life, but it didn’t define her worth. Her beauty and talent shone at the pageant competition after winning the Miss Florida for America 2023 crown. She was the first officially diagnosed autistic winner of the pageant. Despite her impressive accomplishments in the glamor world, she struggled in the job market due to widespread misunderstanding and misinformation regarding autism. However, Cafe Joyeux has become her career-defining with the employment opportunity.
About Cafe Joyeux
Cafe Joyeux’ owner Yann Bucaille-Lanrezac’s forward thinking has already set a standard in American society, encouraging other businesses to hire workers with developmental disabilities, autism, and Down syndrome. The New York outlet is their first branch in the country.
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The French cafe chain has been in the business for eight years, hiring qualified autistic and disabled people. It all began with their first outlet opening in France in 2017. After almost a decade of brewing and serving espresso shots around the globe, including New York City, the cafe now serves in 24 locations. In addition to America, Lamrezac operates outlets across European cities— Lisbon, Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Brussels, Cascais, and more.
The inclusive policy of hiring neurodivergent people into the workforce has not only earned praise but also set a shining example of autistic people’s capacity to help run businesses. Apart from the United States, the cafe’s European outlets in Portugal, Belgium, and France operate smoothly with autistic staff. The French word ‘joyeux’ stands for joyful, and this policy serves the cafe’s joyous spirit and objective.
The review of Cafe Joyeux’s New York outlet
Being in the business since 2023, Cafe Joyeux has been one of the top cafe hotspots in the Empire City. Their Google page has more than a hundred positive reviews, showing autistic people can efficiently run a business. Regular visitor Susan Wright praises the cafe’s ambience, food, and mission, stating she loves the jovial and welcoming staff who are always delighted to serve her favorite coffee and delicious pastries.
Mel J wrote she stopped to grab a coffee and yogurt parfait before heading to work, and she was blown away by the well-mannered man’s warm gesture at the counter, with whom she had a lovely conversation. She praised the cafe’s initiative to employ neurodivergent people. Though the service wasn’t the quickest, the food and coffee impressed her enough to schedule a revisit.
Overall, the cafe is doing well in terms of ambience, food quality, and hospitality. Even though some customers complain about slow service, the excellent food and beverages outweigh the minor inconvenience. In addition to New York, the cafe chain can set a target to operate in top cities of the country— such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin, San Francisco, and Seattle— providing job opportunities to many competent autistic individuals.
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