SARASOTA (WSNN) -  Rise & Nye’s is a local eatery serving up more than just food. It's a coffee and ice cream shop creating employment opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

"It’s actually a human rights movement disguised as a coffee and ice cream shop," Rise & Nye’s co-founder Beaver Shriver said.

Shriver founded the non-profit Inclusion Revolution to support a business for people with special needs.

"We don’t turn a profit with the business itself, so we need support from the non-profit to keep the show going," Shriver said.

This flagship shop opened up about a year and a half ago in downtown Sarasota with a mission to include and accept everyone.

"It makes me happy every day to know we have an opportunity to give these guys a chance to show their abilities, to show what they can do, to have them be included finally," Shriver said. "We’ve excluded this population for way too long."

Hiring people from all across the Suncoast, Rise & Nye's has 35 employees wearing many different hats.

"Most have never had a job," Shriver said. "They are baristas, they’re ice cream scoopers, they’re sous chefs, cashiers, runners."

Team leaders support staff members who need an extra hand. From coffees and ice creams to beignets and bagels, they have it all. Nick Mathews has been scooping ice cream for customers since the shop first opened.

"My name is Super Scooper and I scoop everything," Mathews said.

"We know he comes here and he enjoys it," Nick's mom, Misty said. "He’s safe and people understand him. It’s really, it’s a good feeling."

Sarah Parkerson is a barista making lattes and coffee.

"This whole shop is just amazing, and honestly it’s a miracle," Parkerson said.

Parkerson’s message to you…

"Choose to include and so just try and normalize special needs and just accept people you know," Parkerson said.

If you want to support this nonprofit, the restaurant is open from Tuesday to Saturday with doors open at 9 a.m. 

Shriver says they hope to expand and offer Rise & Nye’s from coast to coast. Right now, they are working on a food truck.

For more information on Rise & Nye’s, you can click here.