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DHS’s special education program prepares students for the workforce while serving hundreds of hot drinks
WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY ELENA LU
Each morning, as sleepy-eyed high school students trudge to their first-period classes, rooms 480 and 482 fill with the rich aroma of coffee.
Through Brewing Independence, an initiative of the DHS special education program, students brew and deliver coffee, tea, and hot chocolate to staff members five days a week for just $1 per drink.
DHS student Callan Biga poses for the camera while making coffee.
Brewing Independence was inspired by Bitty & Beau’s Coffee, a franchise that opened its Ann Arbor location in September 2022. Bitty & Beau’s mission is to make the world a better place for those living with disabilities. More than 90% of the franchise’s employees—more than 350 at 11 locations as of April 2022—have an intellectual or developmental disability, according to a Bloomberg article. Inspired by Bitty & Beau’s vision, special education teacher Meghan LaBarre purchased supplies and created Brewing Independence. Brewing Independence is now grant-funded through the Educational Foundation of Dexter, which provides financial support to ensure the program can continue for years.
SOMETHING BREWING: Callan Biga makes a hot cup of coffee with a Keurig machine.
At DHS, the process begins with a Google form. Special education staff members then transfer the orders from the spreadsheet to a visual order form that students receive when they arrive in the morning. At a small station on the counter, stocked with a Keurig machine, pods, and coffee cups, one or two students make coffee, tea, and hot chocolate with teacher supervision. Orders are placed on the delivery cart and grouped by location. Students then deliver each order in their custom-designed Brewing Independence aprons by knocking on the door, greeting the customer, handing them their drink, collecting payment and making change if necessary, and saying “goodbye” or “enjoy your coffee”—skills that they practice in the classroom before and after deliveries.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 80% of U.S. citizens with disabilities are unemployed. Brewing Independence seeks to prepare students for the workforce by providing real-world experience. Students get an opportunity to learn not just coffee preparation but also problem-solving, social skills, and positivity.
Social interaction is the biggest challenge that the students face, according to special education teacher Kellison Kohler. Social interactions are unpredictable and can leave some students stumped, but the group has made progress throughout the year.
“They have more confidence from all of their practice, which seems to put them at ease when an unexpected question arises,” Kohler said. “I’m really proud of them and their progress with this.”
ORDER UP: An order form and an empty coffee cup await the next order.
Glowing reviews from customers confirm the success of the program, citing the students’ friendliness and the program’s impact at DHS.
“Seeing the students deliver my order each day always puts a smile on my face,” science teacher David Sinopoli commented.
“I get the much needed caffeination for the second half of my day, but […] better yet is the students in my class get to see their peers in a different light,” math teacher Allison Denisco added.
Brewing Independence has served over 300 drinks to DHS staff since late September, and orders show no signs of slowing. Kohler plans to continue to challenge his students to become increasingly independent, and he may introduce new brewing options to better prepare his students for work in a real coffee shop.
