Looking for activities that modeled real-world job skills, occupational therapist Bri Litvin and paraeducator Corri Hall created a beverage cart for students to manage in Life Skills at Meridian Middle School.
On Mondays and Wednesdays, students in the Life Skills program gather supplies, collect orders, create drinks based on the orders and deliver them to classrooms. The beverage cart also includes cookies for $2.
“I had come across similar programs while trying to find some activities that Life Skills students could do that fit an inclusionary or unified model within the education system,” Hall said. “After getting to know Bri and her excitement and willingness to try anything that might benefit the students, I mentioned the idea of the beverage cart to her. She thought it was a great activity to try. You need a strong partner to get a program like this up and rolling, and Bri was just that. She was not only willing but enthusiastic.”
Litvin explained that the beverage cart is a functional way for students to achieve their goals. Goals for students can include tasks like counting change or writing.
“They practice with writing or typing the menu and orders,” Litvin said. “They also work on social skills; working together and with their customers. This cart fosters community at Meridian Middle School. The beverage cart is a way for the students to interact with more teachers and staff. Many general education teachers do not get an opportunity to work with students in the Life Skills program. ”
Litvin explained there are also many executive functioning skills the students are practicing while working at the beverage cart including following directions, setting up the beverage cart, making the orders and then putting everything away.
Litvin said they have discovered that having three students operate the beverage cart is optimal so students take turns doing rotations working the cart. Each student enjoys different parts of the experience. Eighth grader Mia said her favorite part of the beverage cart is taking the orders and then delivering them. Seventh grader Amelia loves to make customers laugh with her jokes. Eighth grader Cooper keeps count of the money collected and eighth grader Eli likes to keep the process moving along.
“This program is a way to introduce and identify skills that can be built upon for community and employment opportunities in the future,” Hall said. “It gives the students a feeling of belonging in their school community, pride in their work and the value of earning money.”
Hall and Litvin have looked for ways to expand what the beverage cart can offer and increase the availability for staff to order. Through a partnership with Meridian High School, Trojan Café students who have their food handlers permits, bake and package cookies for the beverage cart to sell. The beverage cart remains popular among staff. Currently, students cannot purchase items from the beverage cart but they hope to provide that opportunity in the future.