Young Man with Down Syndrome Who Loves To Dance Gets Heartwarming Promotion at Coffee Shop
Amy Wright and her husband first opened Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Shop in Wilmington, North Carolina, after noticing something missing in their community.
The Wrights have two children with Down syndrome, and as they grew up, the parents began to worry about what would happen to them once they joined the workforce.
Many disabled people often find difficulty when it comes to getting a job, leaving most either unemployed or unhappy in their positions.
The couple wanted their cafe to be a place where their children and those with intellectual or developmental disabilities could feel welcome, both as customers and as employees.
Now, it’s blossomed into a place “where diversity is not just appreciated — it’s celebrated.”
And it’s no secret why the shop quickly became a success after its opening in 2016. Those who’d felt excluded from certain shops and restaurants quickly found comfort in knowing there was a place they would always be invited in and valued.
Trevor Jefferson, 23, certainly found a home at Bitty and Beau’s when he joined the team as a barista. And recently, the Wrights decided it was time to reward their dedicated employee for his hard work.
Trevor, who has Down syndrome, is known around the coffee shop as a “dancing machine.” The encouraging shop even hosts dance parties, allowing customers and employees the freedom to express themselves.
A social butterfly, the barista position was perfect for Trevor. But he’d always been an inspiring member of the team who was always willing to encourage others, so the Wrights decided it was time for him to take on a new role.
A video of his surprise promotion has quickly gone viral, and it’s easy to see why.
“You love to dance. And you entertain. And so I thought it was time to give you a promotion,” Amy says to Trevor in the video.
Finally, she reveals what the surprise is. “We are making you, officially, our director of entertainment,” she said, holding out an official certificate of promotion with Trevor’s name on it.
The moment the young barista sees his official title on the certificate, he is overcome with joy.
But the surprise wasn’t over just yet. At the end of the video, Amy tells him one more exciting perk that will accompany his promotion.
“And with this comes a raise, too, Trevor,” she said.
What an inspiring moment for a truly deserving worker. The Wrights went on to explain that the choice to give Trevor a new role was simple.
“He’s always setting an example for his coworkers, so it was an easy decision to give him the promotion,” Amy said. And it’s clear that the support Amy and her husband continue to provide for their customers and employees has truly made an impact.
“Lots of families with young children with disabilities come here and they see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Amy explained. “Other people that come, Trevor’s mom included, have told us what these jobs have done for [their] life.”
“The whole atmosphere here is great. Everybody is friends with everybody and it’s a real place of community,” she said. And perhaps most importantly, “everybody dances with you.”
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