Deli offers job training for students with disabilities

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a5_5foodcart.7183214feb22,0,5800524.story

Portable, practical learning
Allentown special ed students prepare for work force by running a food and coffee cart, the DelectABLE Deli
February 22, 2010By Steve Esack OF THE MORNING CALL

For 29 years, Deborah Hartman spent her days in the classroom, working with special education students.

When she was promoted six years ago to special education director, headquartered at the downtown Central Administration Building of the Allentown School District, Hartman missed the daily interaction with her students. She was sure others in the central office did too.

''I've always wanted kids in the administration building to keep people's eyes on the target,'' she said. ''We are in a business, but it's not a business about widgets. It's a business about kids.''

With the help of federal stimulus money, Hartman got her wish. She and her staff founded DelectABLE Deli, a food and coffee cart staffed by special education students from Allen and Dieruff high schools.

It is part of the district's effort to prepare mentally and physically challenged students to enter the work force after graduation.

''Everything we have with the cart is to develop skill sets,'' Hartman said. ''It's not just providing beverages and food for administrators.''

Allen students like Luis Rodriguez, 19, work on their verbal skills by greeting customers and taking their breakfast or lunch orders. They work on their math skills by adding prices ($1.25 for a muffin plus 75 cents for coffee) with the help of first-year special education teacher Danielle Jones.

''Have a good weekend,'' Luis called to customer R. Brook Porch, a consultant from the state Department of Education, on Friday.

''It gives them real life experience,'' said Porch, who walked away with a cranberry muffin and coffee.

Preparing students for life after school is all part of the mandate of special education, which is available to students ages 3 to 21 who have a wide range of disabilities, from autism and Down syndrome to blindness and emotional illnesses.

Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004, school districts must work with parents to develop personalized learning plans for such students.

Once special education students turn 14, their learning begins to move from the classroom to a work-based learning experience via introductions to trade school or jobs within the school district or outside companies.

But meeting special education mandates can be costly.

The two-year, $787 billion stimulus package Congress passed last year included $12 billion for school districts for special education.

Allentown received about $10 million in stimulus money, including $3.6 million for special education.

Allentown spent $5,000 in special education money to start the DelectABLE Deli. The ABLE is an acronym for Allentown Building Life Experiences. A total of 27 students work in three shifts from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Hartman said she hopes to use the next round of stimulus money to rent a handicapped accessible apartment near Allen High School. The apartment would be used to teach students how to live independently because an apartment, like the food cart, is more realistic than a classroom, she said.