Introducing the newest business at the Ädelbrook Learning Center: “Cook’s Coffee Cart!” In an effort to create more on campus job opportunities we opened a coffee cart — where students get to practice job skills, and on Fridays staff get the “perk” of having coffee delivered to them!
Throughout the week, there are a number of jobs students complete to get ready for Friday coffee cart days. The students cut out the order forms, place them in envelopes, and deliver them to each classroom. They then go around and collect the order forms and ensure customers have paid the appropriate amount of money and practice giving change for transactions if needed.
On Friday’s two students use Keurigs to make the coffee to order. The order forms are color coded and the coffee is stored in a bin that matches the color of the text on the order form, which gives students without reading skills the ability to follow the order independently by matching colors.
Once the coffees have been made, they are placed on a cart and a delivery team of two different students pushes the cart and delivers the coffee to the appropriate staff. While delivering, students have bins of creamers and sugar and ask staff ‘How many creams and sugars?’ The students then practice counting out the correct number and handing it to staff. Staff have been given rewards card, buy 10 cups of coffee get one free, and one student on the delivery team is responsible for marking their rewards cart and saying, “Thank you for your order.”
The coffee cart has only been up and running for a few weeks but the excitement and benefits have already been huge! One student who struggles to stay focused for even 10 minutes during vocational tasks, worked making coffees for 30 minutes! Students who are over the age of 16 are eligible for our work study program and earn a stipend for their time. Staff have enjoyed the coffee deliveries every week and are very supportive of this new business. Our students are working hard, increasing their independence, and learning real life skills for the future!
By Emily Cook,
Special Education Teacher
Learning Center — Cromwell