LEXINGTON, Ky. — Oct. is dedicated to National Disability Employment Awareness Month and a Lexington coffee shop is among the many employers who hires more than 25 employees with special needs.
“I make coffee, I serve food. As you can see I do the POS system, which is a point of sales," said Jonathan Smith. "Whenever someone comes up here to order, I'm usually the one to help them out."
Smith grabs the orders greeting and joking with customers. His colleague, Elshaday Maas fills the orders that pour in and the duo tag team to fulfill duties.
"I've actually like always wanted to get a job, you know, and all that stuff, and I think this is the right job for me that I found," Maas said. "It's a really good place and I love making the coffee, and even cleaning stuff too, sometimes I clean the bathroom sinks and all that stuff, you know."
Both are employees at McLeod's Coffee where founder and retired youth minister Brewster McLeod designated the term VIPs.
"Listen, this group, when you hire a VIP, they ain't going to quit. These men and women, they want the inclusion” McLeod said. “I hate the word exclusion, hate it, just there's no good in it OK. There's really none in it. Exclusive membership, exclusive situation, exclusive coffeehouse. This is inclusive. Inclusive, is where it's all at.
An inclusive coffee house that employs those with special needs since 2019.
“Once you train this group, just like you and I get trained for our jobs, that's, that's what it takes,” McLeod said.
His idea stemmed from his youth ministry days.
“When I was ready to retire, (I) wasn't ready to pick up shells on the beach but I was teaching class one day I said hey listen if I ever opened a coffeehouse or a store, would you all work, not for me but will be. so, here we go,” McLeod said.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in Kentucky, 30% of people with disabilities are employed, and the employment rate for the eligible population is 76%.
According to an advocacy group called Kentucky Works, in 2020, 40% of Kentucky high school graduates with disabilities were competitively employed and for those with autism, functional mental disabilities, and multiple disabilities, that number dropped to 11%.
“You can't help but get to know them and love them, and they can't help but get to know you and love you and care about you,” McLeod said.
It’s care that’s poured into each brewed roast.
“It’s a great job. I don’t see this as a job at all. So fun,” Smith said.