Students at the Pressley Ridge School for Autism and the School for the Deaf are excited to provide the Wake up Pressley Coffee Shop. The concept began as a rolling cart several years ago, and when the new school was built, a dedicated space for the shop was included in the design.
There was a long hiatus due to the pandemic, which started just a few months after the new school opened. Recently, the shop has been able to safely re-open to serve pre-packaged snacks and single-serving beverages.
Students of all educational abilities can participate in the shop. In addition to working on vocational skills, the experience is particularly beneficial to students who use devices and/or use sign language to communicate. Some students are working on social skills and can practice those skills as a greeter or as a customer associate. Others use their strengths to accurately fill orders and keep the stocked shelves in order.
Donations from staff are used to keep the shop well-stocked. While no money is exchanged, purchases are counted by using a punch card marked in increments of twenty-five, which helps students learn real life counting skills.
If you’d like to support the Wake Up Pressley Coffee Shop, donate here. (Donation Designation: Other; Note: Coffee Shop)