“I can do it too!” Special Needs School Students Experience Authentic Coffee Roasting, Sparking Visions of Future Work

Start Line Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Mitaka City, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Kenji Nishimura), which aims to create “a society where everyone can live authentically” through employment support for people with disabilities, conducted a workplace training program on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at “BYSN ISEHARA ROASTERY” in Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, welcoming students and teachers from special needs schools.

This initiative aims to connect special needs education with actual workplaces, providing students with an opportunity to concretely envision their career paths and working styles after graduation.

Overview of the Training Program

Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Location: BYSN ISEHARA ROASTERY (1026-1 Takamori, Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture 259-1114)

Participants: 18 first-year high school students from special needs schools, 5 teachers, total 23 people.

Content: ・Introduction to BYSN ISEHARA ROASTERY's initiatives ・Lecture on “Who works here?” and “What can be prepared at school for work?” ・Facility tour ・Work experience (coffee bean sorting, roasting, packaging, etc.)

In addition to the lecture, students gained a concrete image of “working in a workplace” by experiencing parts of the actual work process.

Scene from the coffee bean hand-picking experience

Scene from the roaster tour

Student Voices

Here are the results of a survey from students who participated in the training.

・I will try to listen to the end and not leave things unclear.

・I will try my best to follow the rules.

・I want to be able to do things by myself!

・It was good to have the experience.

・Sorting coffee beans was difficult.

Teacher Voices

We received the following feedback regarding this training.

“The participating students are still first-year high school students and have not yet formed a concrete image of employment. Currently, they are gradually getting used to work through tasks outsourced by companies within the school, but there are not many opportunities for them to go out to actual companies for training, considering their physical condition and individual characteristics. We are very grateful for the opportunity to provide such a place, given that practical training opportunities at companies are limited.

Although we usually teach necessary work skills such as ‘reporting, communicating, and consulting’ at school, there is great value in hearing directly from people who are actually working and seeing the現場 (workplace) firsthand.

Some students who had the impression that work seemed ‘difficult’ said, ‘I think I can do it too’ through today’s experience, making it a very valuable opportunity connected to their future. We sincerely thank you for providing such a training opportunity.”

About BYSN ISEHARA ROASTERY

BYSN ISEHARA ROASTERY, opened in Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture in June 2025, is a roastery-type employment support base for people with disabilities that supports their general employment through coffee roasting operations. People with disabilities employed by client companies use BYSN’s dedicated professional roasters to engage in the roasting and processing of high-quality coffee beans. The finished coffee is developed as an original blend for companies and is utilized in various situations, such as being provided to employees, used as novelties, or as commemorative gifts.

In addition to daily operations, BYSN also supports individual step-ups according to aptitude and goals, such as providing support for obtaining qualifications like Coffee Meister.

Currently, BYSN ISEHARA ROASTERY employs approximately 10 managers and 60 people with disabilities, and aims to gradually increase recruitment to create employment for approximately 30 managers and 100 people with disabilities in the future.

Looking Ahead

Start Line will continue to collaborate with special needs schools and local communities to create opportunities for younger generations to concretely envision “working.”

Through training and tours, we will fulfill our role in connecting school education with society, aiming to realize a society where everyone can live authentically.

Start Line Co., Ltd.

Start Line Co., Ltd. is a company that provides comprehensive support for employment of people with disabilities, from creating new “places” for employment to retention support, based on effective and specialized assistance rooted in ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis), CBS (Contextual Behavioral Science), and third-generation cognitive behavioral therapy. Under the corporate philosophy of “Caring for oneself, caring for others, and caring for what lies beyond,” since its establishment in 2009, the company has focused on the “recruitment” and “retention” of people with disabilities in the field of employment support for people with disabilities, operating the satellite office “INCLU” with employment support services for people with disabilities. Centered on comprehensive consulting for employment of people with disabilities, the company has expanded its service menu to include the indoor farm-type employment support service “IBUKI,” the roastery-type employment support service “BYSN,” customized training for companies and individuals with disabilities, remote employment support, and employment support for people with disabilities. By creating as many options as possible and expanding the potential of diverse individuals, the company aims to realize a society where everyone can live authentically.