What started as an idea to give special education students real-world work experience has grown into a popular morning stop at Adair County High School.
Indian Grounds, the school’s student-operated coffee shop, opened in the spring of 2022. Located inside ACHS, the shop gives exceptional education students the opportunity to develop vocational skills, interact with their peers and gain experience they can use beyond the classroom.
The idea came from a similar program at Logan County High School, where students in the Moderate to Severe Disabilities (MSD) classroom operated their own coffee shop. After learning about the program, Adair County Schools Director of Special Education Wes Irvin recognized its potential benefits for ACHS students.
Irvin, ACHS Principal Chad Parnell and the MSD teacher at the time visited Logan County to see how the program worked. Following the visit, Irvin wrote a grant to help fund the project. The grant was awarded by the WHAS Crusade for Children, a nonprofit organization that raises money to support children with special needs. A local construction worker also volunteered his time and skills to build the shop.
Since opening, Indian Grounds has expanded its menu beyond its original offerings of black coffee, cappuccinos and a few flavored iced coffees. Customers can now choose from a wider selection of iced coffees, seasonal cappuccinos and refreshers.
However, serving drinks is only one part of the shop’s purpose.
“The main goal of the coffee shop is to allow special education students to learn vocational skills they can apply in the real world and to be able to have more opportunities to interact with their same aged peers,” exceptional education teacher Whitney Coe said.
Money earned through Indian Grounds goes directly back to the students and their classroom needs. Previous purchases include accessible picnic tables for outside, special needs chairs for the classroom and sensory items for a sensory room.
Through their work in the shop, students also practice responsibility, teamwork, communication and time management in a real workplace environment.
Although the coffee shop is a popular addition to the school, its success can bring challenges. Coe said the shop can become overwhelming, especially when several orders come in at once.
“The coffee shop can be overwhelming at times. It is a well-loved place in the school and is often very busy while open,” Coe said. “Having several coffees being made at a time is a huge challenge for the students.”
The busiest time of the morning is between 7 and 7:35 a.m. To prepare for the next school day, students restock supplies and brew coffee after closing so everything is ready when the shop opens again.
Indian Grounds is also looking for ways to reach more people throughout the school system. Students and teachers are working on creating a coffee cart that would allow students to deliver drinks to high school staff, with plans to eventually expand deliveries to the middle school.
Students also help develop the menu by creating seasonal and limited-time drinks, giving them another opportunity to share ideas and take ownership of the business.
As Indian Grounds continues to grow, Coe hopes its purpose remains at the center of everything it does.
“Our plan is for the coffee shop to continue to thrive and be an excellent tool in helping the students who serve it succeed,” Coe said.
What began as a grant-funded project has become an opportunity for students to contribute to their school community while gaining experience that extends beyond the classroom. Through Indian Grounds, students are not only serving coffee but also learning valuable skills they can carry with them into the future.
