Michael Coyne who’s been an athlete in the Special Olympics of Rhode Island suffers from autism.
For a long period of time, Michael tried hard to get a job but was unable to do so. It was when he decided to start his own business – a venture where he could make a living besides helping specially challenged people.
According to WPRI-TV, Michael started a coffee shop, named Red White & Brew, in North Smithfield, R.I. The café warmly welcomes people with special needs.
“After I turned 21, I applied to multiple places. None of them would hire me,” Michael told WPRI-TV.
Michael is autistic, has bipolar disorder and also suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, aka ADHD.
Rejection from jobs acted as a motivation for Michael to join business classes. After completing his study, the young man and his mom started their own business.
“As parents, we look at our kids and see the value,” Michael’s mom Sheila said. “We see what they are capable of, instead of the system that’s consistently labeling them and putting barriers.”
“What I liked about the coffee shop idea is the community. We learn on both sides,” she added.
“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.’”
Michael plans to create an environment where people having special needs and normal people can work in harmony, helping each other in moving ahead in life.
Michael’s mom says they only need to make some minor changes, like having a milk steamer that shuts down automatically and having a point of sale that has a barcode scanner, to help the staff work efficiently.
“It’s making accommodations that I think the business community thinks is going to be costly, but it’s really not,” Sheila told local newspaper The Valley Breeze.
Red, White & Brew also has a connection with Budding Violet, a craft store specializing in selling pieces of art developed by specially challenged artists.
Even though Michael’s business is just a few weeks old, it is functioning as a great help for families with differently challenged children.
“It’s just a beacon of hope for people with disabilities,” said Michael.
“We’ve had parents come in with tears in their eyes with the hope that their young children will eventually be accepted into the community,” his mom added.
The Coyne family hopes that their business could be a help for people with special needs who are having difficulty finding jobs.
It will also send a message to the world that specially challenged people are hardworking indeed. “We just want to integrate,” Michael said.
Red, White & Brew offers coffee made with freshly brewed local coffee beans as well as other items like cakes, pastries, and cookies.
Replaced!