Roll for Inclusion: Building a Café Where Everyone Gets to Play
We had the pleasure of speaking with Alyssa DeMarinis and Hanna Bronnenberg, the passionate founders of Roll for Inclusion, a community-focused board game café with a mission. More than just a place to grab coffee and roll dice, this upcoming space is designed from the ground up to welcome neurodiverse, LGBTQ+, and underserved individuals through inclusive design, job coaching, and joyful connection. In our conversation, they shared the vision, heart, and hope behind this powerful project.
Building Community Through Play
What inspired you to create a space specifically centered around inclusion and accessibility?
As professionals in education and therapy, we’ve spent our careers helping students navigate systems that weren’t built for them. While we’ve seen the impact of support in schools, we’ve also seen the gap that exists in public spaces—places where accommodations and acceptance are often missing.
Roll for Inclusion was created to change that—to bring the strategies we use every day into a joyful, community space where everyone is welcome. Not a clinic. Not a therapy center. A warm, vibrant café where families, friends, kids, teens, and adults of all abilities and identities can gather, play games, enjoy good food, and connect with each other.
We combined our passion for games and coffee with our purpose-driven backgrounds to build a place where people can show up as themselves, participate fully, and feel a true sense of belonging. Roll for Inclusion is open to the public, and it’s for anyone looking to share laughter, build friendships, and enjoy quality time—together.
A Place Where Everyone Belongs
Your mission focuses on supporting neurodiverse individuals and the LGBTQ+ community. What are some specific ways your café fosters that sense of belonging?
We built Roll for Inclusion on the belief that belonging should be accessible to all. While we’re proud to center support for neurodiverse and LGBTQ+ individuals, we want everyone—young and old, introverts and extroverts, first-time players and game night regulars—to walk through our doors and feel welcome.
We understand that traditional cafés can be overwhelming, especially for people who experience the world differently. That’s why our space is designed with care: a calming sensory room, tactile fidgets, visual menus, and noise-canceling headphones make the environment more comfortable for all.
We will also host themed events to foster connection—from family-friendly Pokémon nights to “Meet New People” game nights and Ladies’ Night for gender-diverse and LGBTQ+ players. These aren’t just events; they’re opportunities to build community in ways that feel safe, relaxed, and joyful.
“Our programming and events are just as intentional”
We host themed nights like Ladies’ Night to make space for women and gender-diverse players in male-dominated gaming communities, as well as “Meet New People, Play New Games” events with built-in conversation supports and Family Pokémon Nights for multigenerational connection. These gatherings aren’t just fun—they’re invitations to connect in ways that feel safe, supported, and authentic.
As LGBTQ+ founders, we also recognize that even something as simple as going on a date can feel risky when you’re not sure if a space is affirming. That’s why we’re creating events and moments that center joy, identity, and safety—so people can hold hands, laugh, and just be themselves. That kind of ease should be the norm, not the exception.
We want Roll for Inclusion to be a place where people come to spend time with loved ones, meet new friends, and feel like they truly belong—whether you’re here for a solo coffee and puzzle or a full table of laughter and strategy.
Gaming With Purpose
How did you choose the games and features that make the café welcoming for all skill levels and abilities?
We believe that board games are for everyone—from lifelong gamers to total beginners, families with kids, friend groups, or someone just looking to unwind over coffee and cards. At Roll for Inclusion, our game library is curated with intention, drawing from our backgrounds in occupational therapy and special education.
Every game we choose serves a dual purpose: it provides fun and accessible play for the general public, and it also plays a key role in our therapist-led skill development game groups. These games help teach and reinforce social communication, executive functioning, fine motor skills, and emotional regulation—all through the power of play.
We organize our library by genre, difficulty, and skill focus so guests can easily find something that matches their interests or needs. And for our skill-building groups, we carefully select games that allow us to scaffold challenges and support each participant’s learning goals in a natural, engaging environment.
To ensure accessibility for all, we offer adaptive tools and play tips across our café. These include visual cues, color-coded instructions, card holders, writing alternatives, and simplified gameplay formats. Many of our games are marked with notes indicating if they work well for buddy play, cooperative formats, or are ideal for reducing frustration during learning moments.
Most importantly, we choose games that are age-appropriate and dignifying—so whether someone is four or seventy-four, neurotypical or neurodivergent, they can engage in play that respects their ability and identity.
Our library is more than just a collection of games—it’s a resource for learning, a catalyst for connection, and a platform where skill development and fun go hand in hand.
More Than a Café: Inclusive Job Coaching
How does your job training program work—and why is it an essential part of your vision?
Creating a welcoming space also means creating meaningful opportunities. At Roll for Inclusion, we offer an on-site job training program for young adults with developmental disabilities that goes beyond just employment—it’s about confidence, contribution, and community.
Participants engage in real café roles—prepping food, assisting with games, supporting events, and more—with embedded supports like visual schedules, social stories, and one-on-one guidance from an occupational therapist (OT) and board certified behavior analyst (BCBA). This personalized environment helps individuals build transferable skills at a pace and structure that works for them.
We also collaborate with schools and community partners to support a smooth transition from education into real-world work experience. Each participant leaves with a tailored resume that highlights their strengths and outlines the supports they need to succeed in future employment.
And because Roll for Inclusion is open to the public, this program allows participants to interact with a wide range of guests—giving them experience in a true community setting, not an isolated environment. Everyone who visits becomes part of a space that values growth, patience, and possibility.
Funding a Mission-Driven Space
What do you hope backers and supporters take away from this campaign—and how can they make a difference?
Roll for Inclusion is more than a café—it’s a business with a mission. We’re building a space where families come to reconnect, friends come to play, and people of all backgrounds find joy and community through games and good food. It’s a café for everyone—but especially for those who don’t always see themselves reflected in public spaces.
Our mission centers the needs of neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ individuals, but our doors are wide open—and our impact grows when people from all walks of life come together in a space built on care, respect, and play.
To make this dream real, we’re launching the $10 and 10 Challenge:
Pledge $10, share with 10 people who believe in building a more connected, welcoming world
Most of us can’t fund a space like this alone—but together, through small, collective action, we can build something truly transformative. When you support Roll for Inclusion, you’re not just backing a café. You’re helping create a place where everyone has a seat at the table—and everyone gets to play.
Thank you to Alyssa and Hanna for sharing the heart behind Roll for Inclusion. This café isn’t just about games—it’s about creating a world where everyone has a seat at the table, support is built in, and joy is for all. With community at its core, Roll for Inclusion invites us to imagine a future where belonging is standard, not special.
Roll for Inclusion: A Board Game Café
About Roll for Inclusion
Alyssa DeMarinis and Hanna Bronnenberg are seasoned therapists with 30 years of combined experience in special education, behavior analysis, and occupational therapy. As co-founders of Roll for Inclusion, they bring deep expertise and personal passion to creating a public space that centers inclusion, community, and accessible fun. Together, they’ve built a project rooted in care, connection, and the transformative power of play.
