Be You: New Cafe in Oakville Offers Employment Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities

BU Cafe & Market, opened in the town of Oakville, Ontario, Canada, was born with the aim of creating meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The founding story of the cafe is based on the experiences of Karen Drexler, a local mother who saw her son with Down syndrome, Jacob Stretton, struggling to find a job. Opening its doors in January on Lakeshore Road, the business operates as a joint venture between mother and son. This cafe not only provides a source of income for individuals with disabilities but also allows them to learn, gain self-confidence, and participate in society. This sincere and humanistic motivation at the core of the business is garnering great interest and appreciation in the area.

Karen Drexler realized that when her son turned 18, the services offered to individuals with disabilities completely changed, and they entered a new era. Jacob, like his sister, desperately wanted to have a job and dreamed of working as a barista. Successfully completing a special education program offered by Mohawk College for students with intellectual disabilities, Jacob began his job search after finishing his higher education. Unfortunately, despite numerous job applications, he received no response, making the situation a heartbreaking experience for his mother. Drexler emphasizes that her son actually possesses all the necessary skills and can do jobs wonderfully with appropriate training.

This challenging job search process turned into an opportunity for the family, and although it was interrupted for a while due to the pandemic, the idea of BU Cafe & Market began to take shape. During this process, Jacob stepped into the world of entrepreneurship by starting his own business in 2021 called BU Candles, selling handmade soy candles. This small business, which exported its products to different countries such as Canada, America, and Australia, achieved great success with its mission of promoting the employment of individuals with disabilities. However, Jacob's desire to interact more with people, being a social individual, pushed the family to create a physical community space. This project, centered around the 'Be You' philosophy, holds personal meaning for both mother and son and inspires customers to celebrate their identities.

The newly opened cafe and market space promises to be much more than just a place to drink coffee. The business offers specialty coffee varieties, fresh baked goods, sandwiches, ice cream, and seasonal beverages. The market section is entirely dedicated to products made by entrepreneurs with disabilities and individuals who support the disability community. Alongside candles, t-shirts, books, special postcards, and handmade artworks take their place on these shelves. This variety aims to offer visitors delicious products while also creating social awareness. Customers shopping here are actually directly supporting a vision of a barrier-free society.

The greatest vision of BU Cafe & Market is to remove inclusivity from being just a special day theme and make it a natural part of working life. Drexler aims for individuals with and without disabilities to work side by side in the same environment, contributing to a shared space. When a new staff member joins, the team first thoroughly analyzes that person's learning style, needs, and the adjustments required for them to be successful. This comprehensive approach allows each individual to discover their own potential and exist as active members of society. This innovative and sincere initiative in Oakville stands out as a model capable of inspiring other communities worldwide on the issue of employment for individuals with disabilities.