When a mother couldn’t find a place willing to employ her son Liván, who has down syndrome, she decided to create one. Liva Café in Havana employs people with intellectual disabilities and autism, with support from specialists in psychology and special education. For workers like Livan, Karel and Richard, it’s a place to earn experience, build relationships and show what they can do. Cuba has long had policies aimed at integrating people with disabilities into the workspace. But as the people in Liva’s story explain, significant barriers remain — particularly when it comes to finding employers willing to give them an opportunity. #cuba

From Belly of the Beast via This RSS Feed.