In Buenos Aires, Alamesa restaurant has emerged as a groundbreaking establishment, employing a predominantly neurodivergent workforce and reshaping perceptions around disability and work, offering fulfillment and purpose to its employees.
Innovating Inclusion: A Buenos Aires Restaurant Empowering Neurodivergent Workers
Innovating Inclusion: A Buenos Aires Restaurant Empowering Neurodivergent Workers
Alamesa breaks barriers by employing individuals with neurological challenges, creating a supportive workplace that highlights their unique skills.
Nacho Fernández Suárez vividly recalls his challenging tenure of eight years as an administrative assistant within Argentina’s Congress. Employed through an inclusion initiative for individuals with disabilities, he faced verbal abuse and neglect. “They bullied me, they pushed me, they treated me poorly,” lamented Mr. Fernández Suárez, 34, who lives with an intellectual disability. With little to occupy his time, he often felt unchallenged and unvalued.
Today, the situation has transformed dramatically for Mr. Fernández Suárez as he takes on a bustling role at Alamesa, a soon-to-be iconic restaurant in Buenos Aires that proudly stands as Argentina's first establishment majorly managed by neurodivergent individuals. Their mission is to provide a supportive environment for individuals who often struggle to find employment after finishing their education, breaking the stigma surrounding neurodiversity in the workplace.
Despite earning roughly one-third of his previous salary as an assistant, Mr. Fernández Suárez's mother, Alejandra Ferrari, expresses her pride in her son’s new position, noting that he now “feels indispensable,” a sentiment far removed from his previous experiences. The transformative journey of Alamesa represents a significant step toward redefining inclusion, hoping to inspire other businesses to recognize the potential and capabilities of those considered different.
