WAUSEON, Ohio —
A coffee shop in Wauseon is making sure individuals with disabilities have equal opportunities when it comes to employment.
For nearly three years, Special Grounds Coffee has employed New Horizons Academy students with disabilities.
"The whole purpose of this place is to let them feel what we all know they're capable of," Marty Friess, principal of New Horizons Academy said.
Students are tasked with everything from designing coffee sleeves to meal prepping in the kitchen to grinding, roasting and bagging coffee.
"Most of what their issues were was they just felt like everybody was making decisions for them," Friess said. "Our goal here isn't to try and fit students into a particular mold, but to find the right place for where they fit."
Friess said they keep the tight-knit community caffeinated.
"We do a lot of things in the back. We do a lot of things that help. We learn," said Joe, a New Horizons student who works at Special Grounds.
Ultimately, the goal is to help the students learn new skills so they can eventually build long-term careers of their own.
"The goal is for all of them to be independently employed," Friess said.
For student-employees like Joe, though, coming to work means so much more.
"My favorite part is seeing everybody coming together," Joe said.
Special Grounds recently launched a coffee truck that travels around northwest Ohio. To see where it stops, click here.
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