1. Cafe Joyeux

Instagram | @izzyzerowastebeauty
Locations | 15 locations across France, see all locations
Countries | France
Website | https://www.cafejoyeux.com/en/

Café Joyeux is a chain of cafés in France and internationally that employs and trains people with mental and cognitive disabilities, aiming to promote their professional inclusion and foster a more empathetic society. Founded in 2017, the café provides permanent employment and vocational training, helping staff develop skills in various roles such as greeting, cashiering, and food preparation. With 15 locations and 154 employees with disabilities, Café Joyeux emphasizes beauty, quality, and authenticity in its operations. The initiative has positively impacted the lives of its employees and their families, promoting a message of inclusivity and capability.

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2. Fair Shot

Instagram | @fairshotcafe
Location | 3 Slingsby Place, London, WC2E 9AB
Country | United Kingdom
Website | https://www.fairshot.co.uk/

Fair Shot Cafe, a social enterprise and registered UK charity, aims to transform the lives of young adults with learning disabilities through specialty coffee. It offers a year-long supported internship program, preparing these individuals for employment and securing paid jobs with supportive employers while providing continued support for six months. Founder Bianca Tavella, inspired by her compassionate upbringing and community involvement, left her NGO job to pursue her dream of creating Fair Shot. Despite challenges, including funding and location issues exacerbated by Covid-19, Tavella successfully opened the cafe in Covent Garden in February 2023. The cafe is now training its third cohort of learners, continuing its mission of inclusivity and empowerment.

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3. All Things Equal

Instagram | @allthingsequal.org.au
Location | Melbourne, 263 Carlisle St,Balaclava, VIC 3183
Country | Australia
Website | https://www.allthingsequal.com.au/

All Things Equal is a café in Melbourne that primarily employs individuals with disabilities to demonstrate their capability and readiness to work, aiming to change societal perceptions and create a more inclusive workforce. Founded by Jonathan Wenig, inspired by his daughter with special needs, the café operates with a team where about half have disabilities. Employees are paid fair wages, unlike some other disability employment schemes, and the café focuses on understanding and accommodating their needs.

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4. Lil E Coffee

Instagram | @lilecoffee
Locations | CALGARY, The Ampersand, 140 - 4th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB, TORONTO, Ground Level, 2 St Clair Ave West, Toronto ON
Country | Canada
Website | https://www.lilecoffee.ca/

Lil E Coffee Cafe in Canada is a non-profit coffee shop founded by Paul Constance, inspired by his daughter Ella who has Down syndrome. The café hires only individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, providing them with job opportunities often denied elsewhere. The employees are given roles to develop skills in money handling and coffee art. The café aims to build a culture of awareness and acceptance of people with disabilities. Lil E Coffee Cafe has locations in Calgary and Toronto, operating on weekdays to serve customers while fostering a culture of acceptance and inclusion.

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5. Bitty & Beaus Coffee

Instagram | @bittyandbeauscoffee
Locations | United States
Shipping | United States
Website | https://www.bittyandbeauscoffee.com/

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee is a rapidly growing chain dedicated to employing individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, founded in 2016 by Amy and Ben Wright after their children Bitty and Beau were born with Down syndrome. With 20 locations across 11 states and Washington, D.C., the café employs over 400 people with disabilities, offering them meaningful job opportunities and paying above minimum wage. The Wrights aim to challenge societal norms and promote inclusivity by hiring based on enthusiasm and willingness to learn, and by fostering customer interactions that change perceptions of people with disabilities. Their ultimate goal is to create a world where people with and without disabilities work side by side in all industries.

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