WELLINGTON, Fla. (CBS12) — Inside the hallways of Discovery Key Elementary School, learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door.
Every Friday, students with autism at the Palm Beach County school run a student-led snack cart, delivering chips, drinks, and candy to teachers while practicing real-world skills like communication, money management, and teamwork.
Teachers say the program is the only school-based enterprise operating at the elementary level in the School District of Palm Beach County.
Students greet customers, show menus, track purchases, make change, and say thank you, all skills educators say are best learned through hands-on experience.
“This is the best way for them to learn,” said Alex Dishman, an autism spectrum disorder teacher at Discovery Key Elementary. “We can teach the skills in the classroom, but by actually letting them do it, they’re able to apply those skills in real-life situations.”
The snack cart is primarily run by fifth graders, with fourth graders slowly being introduced to the process. Third graders help behind the scenes by tracking inventory and learning basic data skills, such as graphing sales.
Crisis intervention teacher Tracy Haynes says the program is intentionally tied to academic and social-emotional standards.
“We’re meeting children where they are, but also looking down the road,” Haynes said. “We’re giving them lifelong skills that will help them be independent as adults.”
Teachers say the program has also become a strong motivator in the classroom, with students eager to participate each week. They’ve noticed improvements in communication, confidence, and social interaction.
“I’ve seen them speaking more,” Dishman said. “They’re using those manners and communicating with each other.”
For students like Zaire Edmond, the experience is simple and joyful.
“Really happy,” Edmond said.
District leaders say if the program continues to show success, it could expand to other elementary schools with special needs programs in the future.