Three local organizations are teaming up to train people living with autism to work at coffee shops in New Westminster.
The program was started collaboratively by Waves Coffee, Joe’s Table, and the Kurdish Canadian Society.
“I’ve seen growing, I’ve seen they were shy, they were not able to talk, to look people in the eye, and now they’re really engaging with people behind the counter, people working, customers coming in,” said Kurdish Canadian Society founder Ismat Simo.
Noah Lee has been partaking in the program and is set to graduate as a fully-trained barista this week at a Waves Coffee House in New Westminster.
“I’m usually not used to socializing a lot, or most of the times I keep quiet to myself but definitely it made me step out of the bubble and made me learn a lot,” he said.
Lee is one of 10 people under the age of 25 who has learned how to work in a cafe — exercising social and communication skills — and will now work at one of five Waves locations.
Two of the organizers have family members with autism, so they hope to continue rolling out the program for young people like their sons.
“I wanted to know what the future holds for him,” said Simo in regard to his son. “I want to see a brighter future is available for everyone who is on the spectrum and people with diverse abilities.”
Joe’s Table Chairman Peter Chung, says he’s seen how people with autism love repetition — they’ll be able to make the perfect cup of coffee every time and feel good doing it.
He says, when he looks at the graduates of the program like Lee, he thinks of his son who passed away.
“My son’s legacy will live on this way by seeing other people do what my son Joseph wanted to do,” said Chung.
“If you look at the statistics, only about half the people with disabilities have employment, which is tough for families and for themselves also.”