Coffee Shop Who Specializes in Hiring People with Disabilities Set to Open in the Boston Area

 By Rachel Galatis  

MELROSE- In a world where coffee is needed, a café in Melrose is hiring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is opening its doors in the Spring.   

Maryanne O’Donnell, a biochemist from Melrose, is opening Bitty and Beau’s Coffee Company on Main Street in Melrose.   

The company was established in 2016 and currently has four locations: Wilmington, Mass; Annapolis, Md; Savannah, Ga; and Charlestown, S.C. The location in Melrose will be its fifth.   

O’Donnell said that the company prioritizes hiring individuals with disabilities because “it is important to show everyone’s unique skill set.”  

“The company founders want to show the world that just because people look different, they aren't anyone to be afraid of; jobs give people independence and a purpose, and anyone can use these skills to contribute if you give them the chance,” she said.   

The founders of the franchise, the Wrights, have four children, two with Down Syndrome: a daughter, Bitty, and a son, Beau. According to their website, part of their vision for the company is to help individuals with disabilities find their purpose in life through immersing themselves in the community.     

Their website emphasizes their determination to advocate for “value,” “inclusion,” and “acceptance” of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.   

Experts say that 80% of adults born with an intellectual disability are unemployed. This franchise was created to help combat this statistic through a “disguised” movement to change the way people see intellectuals who are disabled by allowing them to show off their skill sets.   

O’Donnell said it was important as a business owner to hire those who are disabled to give them the chance to find their purpose in life and to show what gifts they have to offer the world.  

“Giving people the chance to shine is better for the community, humanity, everything,” she said.   

The employees clean, prepare coffee orders, and make food. Menu items include lattes, frappes, smoothies, muffins, and breakfast burritos.   

Emily Hartford, a student who teaches a course on mental health at Stonehill College through its IDEAS program, said she hopes other businesses follow in the footsteps of Bitty and Beau’s by hiring those with disabilities. 

“I hope that their lead, along with the foundation created by the leaders of the disability community, proves to every business that they too can hire individuals with disabilities,” she said.   

IDEAS stands for Integrating Democratic Education at Stonehill and is designed as a leadership opportunity for students to teach a topic of their choice through a peer collaborative learning environment. The courses are worth one credit and meet once a week for a two-hour period.   

“I personally do not have a disability so I cannot speak to what it is like to live in a society that is not made for me, but I can educate myself, share the sources I learn from, and continue educating myself,” she said.   

March was named “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month” by former President Ronald Reagan to raise awareness for those who are disabled. 

Many companies host events and fundraisers to raise more money for charities that help with disabilities. 

Stonehill Director of Accessibility Resources, Eileen Bellemore, said those who are disabled need to be respected and valued. 

“We need to reframe how we understand disability, and we need to create more inclusive frameworks by which all people have an equal opportunity to participate,” she said.   

Bellemore said she supports any business that is committed to social change and hopes that more businesses will recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.   

“People with intellectual and developmental disabilities should have opportunities to find jobs aligned with their interests, preferences, and strengths, and robust data suggests that companies who employ more people with disabilities outperform those who don’t,” she said.   

Because Bitty and Beau’s prioritize hiring individuals with disabilities, companies who help these individuals find jobs have another option for placement.  

Teresa McGrath, the director of Student Success and Retention at Endicott College, said that Bitty and Beau’s offers a way to break down stigmas and hope other companies will follow in their footsteps.  

“Bitty & Beau's is a great opportunity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to learn and grow skill sets and confidence in the workplace,” she said.  

Although Bitty and Beau’s prioritizes hiring those with disabilities, they also hire people who want to immerse themselves in a creative environment so that there is a strong learning environment in the workplace.  

Amy Cohn, the director of the center for Academic Coaching at Endicott College, said that it is important for people to create an environment where everyone is learning and improving their skillset.  

“Entrepreneurs are ones that see opportunities where others do not, and act on that vision. But those entrepreneurs are not always motivated by the needs of those nearest and dearest to themselves,” she said.  

 https://www.bittyandbeauscoffee.com/about/our-story/