School Bus Café drives to support special needs adults in Uxbridge

The School Bus Café.   Photo from Instagram @schoolbuscafe

Nikita Mohile

When you think of your morning coffee, sipping it inside a school bus probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But after visiting the School Bus Café, it might become your favourite way to start the day.

Located on Centre Road in Uxbridge, this unique café captures the cozy charm of a classic coffee shop, offering excellent coffee, mouth-watering cinnamon buns, and even better conversation.

The café, run by people with special needs and volunteers, was founded by Uxbridge resident Rita Van Halteren. She envisioned it as a space to “create a community for adults with special needs and provide a place where they could find meaningful work and engage with others.”

Van Halteren was inspired by her travels in Europe, where she observed how adults with special needs were given opportunities to develop workplace skills.

The interior of the School Bus Café.   Photo from Instagram @schoolbuscafe

“Developing workplace skills is essential, as having a job is more than just a way to earn a living. It’s an opportunity to meet new people, set goals, and achieve a sense of meaningfulness,” explains Van Halteren.

Although Canada is a leading country in inclusive policies, about 75 per cent of working-age Canadians with special needs are unemployed. While children with special needs often have access to resources in school, the transition after high school - typically around age 20 - can be challenging.

Drawing from her own experience with her daughter, Van Halteren highlighted the “real lack of support” available, emphasizing how difficult it can be for adults with special needs to stay engaged in the community.

“My daughter is 26 now, and it’s been really hard to find something where she can have meaningful days,” she shared.

After high school, a large number of adults with special needs look to community living as a next step. While Community Living Ontario has great options, many people cannot access these due to long wait times. With limited funding and resources, the waitlists are long, with some families waiting over 20 years for a spot. According to a Community Living Ontario 2021 publication, since 2017, the waitlist has grown from 18,200 to around 28,200 people. In response to this issue, the Ontario government provides a direct funding option called Passport, which helps adults with special needs to access day programs, hire support workers, and participate in recreational activities.

“It’s great that they’re allowing people to find individual programming,” Van Halteren noted. There is, however, not much programming in Uxbridge.

The need for programming is where initiatives such as the School Bus Café come into play.

“The main thing is just that connection with other people. It creates a fuller community,” said Van Halteren.

The School Bus Café will be open one more Wednesday before it closes for the season - Aug. 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 7309 Centre Road.