“OK kids – what do you want to do to make some money for the class?” Clara Muniz’s class brainstormed this question as part of the Able Trust Futures in Focus grant. The goal of the grant is to fund participation in education and vocational-related activities, leading to increased employment opportunities for Florida’s middle/high school students with disabilities. Last year, 88% of the 725 students who participated in the program reported an increased interest in pursuing post-secondary options. Teachers noted that students just needed to learn about their options and visualize themselves in a job.
Over the course of the school year, the DeSoto Coffee Cafe group has been involved in four main activities. First, students participated in job site visits to explore various careers firsthand. These visits introduced students to in-demand industries in our downtown area, allowing them to observe real work environments, engage with professionals, and ask questions about career pathways. They also met with local Vocational Rehabilitation representatives to see what VR offers, including employment assistance, skill training, and support for individuals with disabilities. Students engaged in career research activities to identify potential career interests and map out education and training pathways for their futures. Alongside this, they developed critical soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability. These skills were reinforced through hands-on activities and classroom discussions.
And finally, to provide a practical and entrepreneurial experience, students have begun developing a coffee bar for teachers. This initiative is designed to teach students key business and customer service skills while also helping them develop leadership, financial literacy, and time management. The coffee bar serves as a training ground for developing workplace etiquette and skills in service-oriented careers. Ms Muniz feels this type of project is critical for the soft skills that students need for jobs. Students will ask teachers to fill out a form each Wednesday specifying the kind of coffee or tea they prefer. Then, the orders are filled each Friday morning with special deliveries to teachers’ classrooms. The project also teaches students essential skills such as money management, customer service, and problem-solving. Once the students have learned the procedures, they will be fully responsible for providing the coffee and filling orders on Fridays. At the end of the school year, the students will create resumes that include their student-run cafe. The students hope the coffee project will provide enough funds that when the grant ends, they can continue to deliver coffee in the coming years, for new students to take part. Congratulations to the DeSoto County Education Foundation and Ms. Muniz for their innovative coffee delivery served with a side of student soft skills and resume building.
