Young Man With Special Needs Opens Coffee Shop and Vows To Hire Others Like Him

   By SheSpeaksTeam  Dec 09, 2019
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Red, White and Crew/Facebook

Finding employment is not always easy, and for adults with special needs - finding a job can be especially challenging. This was certainly the case for Rhode Island resident, Michael Coyne, who lives with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and bipolar. Coyne decided that rather than giving up on finding a job, he would create one for himself by opening a small business within his community.

CBS News reports about Coyne’s coffee shop and his unique business model that aims to hire employees with special needs. Coyne has never been one to back away from a challenge and has even participated as an athlete in the Special Olympics. After taking business classes at the Rhode Island Developmental Disability Center and studying in the field of hospitality, Coyne felt it was time to take the next step by opening his coffee shop he has named Red, White and Brew.

Coyne says that he hopes to hire more employees with special needs like himself. He explains, “We just want to integrate.” Coyne mother, Sheila, is proud of her son’s accomplishments and hopes the way he runs his small business will be an inspiration to others. Sheila says, “What I liked about the coffee shop idea is the community. We learn on both sides. We teach people, 'Yeah, he has a disability, but look what he's doing.' And he's out in the community getting his social skills.” She adds, “He's done amazing things. And he's just a really good human being. You feel that when you come in.”

What do you think about this business model?

Do you think more businesses should hire employees with special needs?

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Beautiful_tulip7 by Beautiful_tulip7 | POPLAR BLUFF, MO
Dec 25, 2019

great idea and I am proud of him and I think businesses should hire employees with special needs. there is a show on ABC called the Good Doctor and it's about a man with autism who is a doctor and a lot of his colleagues are skeptical because of this even though he is amazing

rolliepollie by rolliepollie | NEWPORT, TN
Dec 11, 2019

There was a guy that had Downs that worked in an Arbys about an hour from my home. He mostly swept and would go around to the tables and take people's trash for them. I am sure there were quite a few things he could do if given the chance.