Inspiring: Meet the World's Only Cafe Run by Paralyzed Individuals

In many countries, individuals with disabilities fight for the right to be part of society and contribute like everyone else. In Tokyo, they've taken a bold step forward in the social justice movement with a particularly innovative approach.

A unique technological system enables paralyzed patients residing in a local Tokyo hospital to operate robotic waiters using only their eyes, serving the customers efficiently.

"Our goal is to help these individuals feel that they are contributing to society in their way, even if they don't have complete independence," says the lead engineer at Ori, the Japanese company behind this significant initiative.

The project involves ten paralyzed people suffering from spinal injuries and diseases such as ALS. "We taught them to use what's left to them after the injury: cognitive abilities and consciousness, which remain intact. Our workers are now proving that everything is possible if there is a will. Nothing should be too hard when it comes to social contribution, which ultimately gives them a sense of belonging."

For their services, the paralyzed employees earn about 1000 yen per working hour, which is roughly 7 USD.

The innovative aspect of this technology is that with only their eyes, the paralyzed workers can remotely command the robots, allowing them to communicate with customers, carry heavy trays, handle payments, and perfectly replace human waiters.

Here are a few images for illustration: