"But he hasn't had consistent employment since before the pandemic. As he gears up to start his new job at Judy's Beach Cafe, he says looking forward to it. "It feels very nice," Ryan said. "I can be myself like a Down syndrome person." Ryan's mom, Elyn Smith, says helping her son find a job has been tough, particularly given that people with special needs often struggle when it comes to the employment sector."
"According to national data from Statistics Canada from 2023, persons with disabilities have "consistently been employed at lower rates" than those without disabilities. The data also indicates employment differs according to the severity of the disability, showing that persons with mild disabilities are more than twice as likely to be employed than those with severe disabilities. That's why Smith says she's grateful to see Judy's Beach Cafe offer a chance for Ryan in her community."
Ryan Matthew Smith has experience working in coffee shops but lacked consistent employment since before the pandemic. He is starting a paid position at Judy's Beach Cafe and says the work makes him feel welcomed and able to be himself as a person with Down syndrome. His mother, Elyn Smith, describes finding work for people with special needs as a persistent challenge. Statistics Canada 2023 data show persons with disabilities are employed at lower rates, with those with mild disabilities more than twice as likely to be employed as those with severe disabilities. Judy's Beach Cafe was founded by retired special needs teachers Donna Shannon Paterson and Leslie Grant, inspired by Paterson's sister Judy, and has received strong community support.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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