An NY Times article reports on a school that is doing some creative things to prepare their special education students for success in the world.  In this particular case autistic students are in charge of running a school coffee shop that is open to teachers.  Reportedly, students are responsible for greeting customers, taking orders, serving, clean-up, and billing.  All of which are essential life skills.  And, reportedly, the students love it.  

Programs like these are what we need to be backing with financial support and words of encouragement.  The students in this project are showing remarkable gains in the one area they struggle the most; socialization.  What a huge benefit to the autistic population.  And the learning that occurs in the coffee shop is legitimate.  It's not forced or contrived.  It's real.  Real coffee.  Real money.  Real learning.

With tightening budgets across the country it is a wonder that this was allowed to happen.  But look at the success.  If only other schools across the country could actually implement their creative ideas to teach our kids in real-life settings the importance of what they are learning.  There is no better learning then real-life learning.