Inclusive Employment at Maeve’s Place in New York

The menu at Maeve’s Place, a cozy coffee shop nestled in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, is far more diverse than that of your average coffee shop. Offering eggs any style, a wide variety of pastries, and eight different types of mac and cheese, it caters to all kinds of tastes. However, the real heart of Maeve’s Place lies not in the kitchen, but in the mission behind the café.

Iva Walsh, a single mother of four who immigrated to the United States from the Czech Republic in the late 1980s, opened this upstate New York establishment in 2018. Her primary goal was to provide work opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Today, her staff includes nine employees, one of whom is her 26-year-old daughter, Maeve, after whom the café is named. Maeve’s brother, Daniel Hellmayer, a 41-year-old graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, also works at the café as a full-time chef.

When Walsh’s family moved from New York City to Ulster County in 2003, Maeve was the only person with Down’s syndrome in her school district. “She was the first one ever, but she went and many followed,” says Walsh. After Maeve graduated from high school, she took continuing education courses offered by the county, designed to help those with intellectual disabilities prepare for employment. Walsh, who has always valued how a job can bring meaning and a sense of belonging, began to envision a future where her daughter could thrive in the workplace.

“Iva Walsh, the mother, has always known the importance of employment for fostering independence and self-worth,” she says. “Maeve has an incredible attention to detail. I know that she wouldn’t have it any other way.”

As a hospitality veteran, Walsh drew upon her extensive experience working in restaurants and catering to create a business plan that would offer Maeve, and others with intellectual disabilities, meaningful work opportunities. At first, Maeve’s father and brother were working on opening a small hotel in Pine Hill, New York. They had a small space available in the facility, which gave Walsh a unique chance to test-run her café idea. When a larger location in nearby Phoenicia became available, Walsh decided to take the plunge. Despite the risks, she took out a loan to finance the expansion, believing it would be worth the investment to create a lasting impact.

In 2023, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the employment rate for individuals with intellectual disabilities had reached a record high of 22.5%. This increase of 1.5% from the previous year highlights the growing recognition of the importance of providing work opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. “People with a disability were more likely to work in service occupations than those with no disability,” the report revealed, with 19.4% of those with a disability employed in such roles compared to 16.1% of those without.

This trend is particularly evident in the restaurant and café industries, which have long struggled with high turnover rates. In response, these industries have become leaders in adopting inclusive hiring practices, recognizing that individuals with intellectual disabilities are often well-suited for customer-facing roles. This is exactly what Walsh had in mind when designing the coffee shop, envisioning a workplace that would allow her daughter to not only fit in, but thrive.

As Walsh began to plan the layout and operations of Maeve’s Place, she carefully considered the unique needs of her daughter and the other employees with intellectual disabilities. Food service jobs are notoriously stressful, and the café’s environment needed to accommodate workers with varying levels of experience and comfort. The clatter of the ticket machine—often a source of anxiety in fast-paced food service—was a key consideration. In many kitchens, the ticket system can be confusing and overwhelming, but Walsh created a system that would make it easier for Maeve and her team. She designed the tickets to list not only the name of the item but also the ingredients in order of assembly. This simple yet effective change helps minimize errors and streamlines the process for everyone involved.

During a recent visit, the Guardian observed Maeve’s favorite corner of the café, the smoothie station, which is lined with circular containers with user-friendly lids and standard measuring scoops. Walsh’s attention to detail in setting up the space has ensured that Maeve and her coworkers can operate with confidence and ease.

Walsh also made thoughtful decisions when choosing the café’s coffee equipment. She buys pre-ground and pre-batched coffee beans, which ensures every shot contains the exact amount of coffee required. This eliminates one of the most common sources of error in coffee-making and helps maintain consistency in every cup. “Maeve has an incredible attention to detail,” Walsh says. “I know that she wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The road to establishing Maeve’s Place, however, was not without its challenges. In the beginning, Walsh faced numerous obstacles, including securing financing for the café. “I was a single mom,” she explains. “I applied for a business loan from our watershed corporation, which helps protect local water quality and supports local businesses. If you go to a traditional bank around here, they won’t give loans to restaurants because of the high failure rate. But the watershed loan was a much lower interest rate.”

Building the café from the ground up was also no small feat. Walsh had to purchase essential equipment like dishwashers, espresso machines, and coffee machines. The space she leased was originally meant to be office space, not a restaurant, so it required extensive renovation, including installing an entire hood and sprinkler system. Adding to the challenge was the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to skyrocketing prices and supply chain delays. “Starting a business at that time was, on one hand, the worst time ever, but on the other hand, since you really couldn’t do anything else, I had plenty of time to paint the walls,” she laughs.

Despite the difficulties, Walsh’s commitment to Maeve and the other employees with intellectual disabilities has never wavered. “What has been the most challenging aspect of keeping the company afloat?” Walsh says, reflecting on the struggles she still faces. “I still have sleepless nights because my loans are not paid up. I constantly worry about payroll. Retaining employees is difficult, and employing people with disabilities means I need to double my staff schedule. I am currently the resident dishwasher.”

When it comes to hiring new employees, Walsh asks one crucial question: “Are you able and willing to work shoulder to shoulder with somebody like my daughter?” She adds, “And it’s OK to say no.”

Maeve’s Place is more than just a café; it’s a testament to the power of inclusive work opportunities and the impact they can have on the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities. By creating a supportive, understanding environment where every worker can contribute, Iva Walsh is not only providing for her family but also helping to create a more inclusive community where others with intellectual disabilities can flourish.