RIYADH: A team of heroes with Down syndrome is staffing Saudi coffee chain Ratio’s Alkhobar branch, in a celebration of inclusivity for disabled people.
With more than 130 branches across the Kingdom, the Alkhobar site is the first of Ratio’s that connects the community and people with disabilities through one of the Kingdom’s staple hangout spots: a coffee shop.
The company told Arab News that it plans to expand the scheme to Riyadh and Jeddah this year.
“I imagine that every Saudi home has a relative with a disability, so today, our mission is to offer any initiative that we can to help,” Mohammed Al-Mulhem, vice president of communications and media at Ratio, told Arab News.
Located in a bustling area in Alkhobar and run in collaboration with the Efaa Medical Center, Ratio Efaa is a community space for people living with disabilities and their family members.
The cafe is not merely a facade of inclusivity, but has implemented real solutions to give both employees and customers a safe and welcoming space to work, socialize or enjoy a hot cup of coffee.
Through their connections with several charities, the idea was first to employ those with Down syndrome to help integrate them into the workforce.
This developed into a branch that offers both employment opportunities and a safe space for disabled people and their families to share the experience.
After six months of training at various Ratio cafe branches, each employee was tasked with a role that they perform best.
“Their theoretical training was through the charity, covering communication skills and how to connect with customers, etc.,” Al-Mulhem said.
“Then, at the branches, working half the usual daily working hours, they did various training sessions.
“One of them, for example, was how to greet customers and break the ice.
“They had a brief rotation within the branch, including how to work as a cashier, how to take orders, how to pour the V60,” he added, referring to the popular style of filtered coffee.
About 70 percent of employees at the shop have Down syndrome, while the rest help out and perform other tasks.
A large part of the revenue from the branch also goes to Efaa Medical Center.
“Some of them may not be skilled in reading or writing, so we approached this in a more creative way.
“When the order is made, instead of giving the customer a receipt and a buzzer, they’re given a solid colored cube, either blue, red, yellow, etc.,” Al-Mulhem said.
In the kitchen, the cubes are coordinated with each order, so that all the runner has to do is find the customer with the same colored cube and serve them at their table.
Al-Mulhem said the chain worked with a design team to make sure that the entryway to the cafe is accessible for people with different types of disabilities, the tables are at appropriate heights, the menu is also available in braille and the ordering procedure is as smooth as possible.
“The whole branch is at ground level so that there’s one experience for all the customers,” Al-Mulhem added.
“In some of the other branches, there are balconies, which make it difficult for anyone with a disability to make their way up there.
“These details were all taken into account by the design team.”
The uniforms worn and trays used at all Ratio branches, including this specialized one, are all made by the heroes at a workshop space established by Efaa Charity.
The packaging on their specialized coffee is also labeled “roasted with love,” detailing the employee behind the batch.
“There was such a beautiful reaction from people on social media about this, from the employees’ families,” Al-Mulhem said.
“During our opening days, there’s always a family member coming to support, whether it’s someone’s mother, grandmother or whole family even.
“This makes them even more proud to be working, especially if it’s something they enjoy doing.
“Many of our franchises have contacted us, whether its Jeddah, Jazan or Tabuk, saying that they love the initiative put on through our head office, but it’s also a social obligation to offer a similar concept within their respective areas.
“Many individuals and families have contacted them asking for that,” Al-Mulhem said. “We won’t stop at just one branch, and we’re trying to measure the impact and better the experience in order to branch this out.”
Recent growing interest in empowering people with Down syndrome was also shown when Starbucks MENA and The Voice of Down Syndrome Society (SAUT) announced a partnership last month, building on the latter’s work empowering its community through education, early intervention and advocacy.
Princess Basma bint Badr, the society’s vice chair, said in a statement: “At SAUT, we believe that every individual with Down syndrome deserves the opportunity to thrive, belong and contribute to their community.
“Our partnership with Starbucks is a testament to the power of collaboration in advancing inclusion and creating meaningful change for families across Saudi Arabia.”
