My students have disabilities (Down Syndrome, Angelmans Syndrome, etc.), most with moderate, severe, or profound physical and/or intellectual disabilities. However, listing them would not give you a picture of who they are or how important they are to me, their school, and their community.
This eclectic group of young adults comes with significant communication, sensory, learning, and physical needs that require skills to be taught in small, incremental steps, and in the context of their environment.
However, none of that matters, because this is the hardest working and most loving group of individuals you will ever meet. They each have specific strengths, that when put together creates the heart of this high school and the perfect storm for success.
My Project
As our students prepare for post-secondary life, we try to find opportunities for them to be involved in our school, as much as possible. Our coffee business will provide opportunities for some students to learn a trade, but also provide opportunities for those who may not be competitively employed, a chance to be a part of something special.
The goal of this project is to provide my students with valuable work/life experiences, provide our school with a cool amenity, and to create multiple learning environments that focus on individual strengths and create positive relationships with members of their school community.
This project has the potential to grow into something much bigger, however at this time, we are looking to improve our school environment on a smaller scale.
A coffee cart is the perfect mobile learning station for my students. We no longer have to stay in our self-contained classroom, but are free to roam the high school halls. Students who require sensory input in the AM will be able to push the cart to any designated location. We will be able to partner with staff members, such as the librarian, to provide a service and warm welcome to individuals who frequent or need to frequent the media center (library).
Pushing buttons (levers that only require them to pull it down), following directions (putting a blue sticker on the tea), and interacting with customers (saying 'hello' or 'thank you', and smiling, are only a few of the skills that will be worked on with the coffee carts. We are giving my special education students an opportunity to do something meaningful in their school, which will have an impact on their lives now and in the future.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Bahn and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
