For Ryan Matthew Smith, working a point-of-sale system, grinding coffee and greeting customers is second nature because he's worked in coffee shops before. 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

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