Brewing Up Vocational Skills at Sierra School of San Diego

Expanding Opportunities for Students

Sierra School of San Diego is percolating new opportunities for students thanks to a recent grant from the National Foundation of Autism Research (NFAR). The grant is to support the school’s vocational program, Coffee Corner.

Building Vocational Skills Through Coffee Corner

The student-run, speech-led vocational program is designed to help students strengthen social-language communication and job-related skills through hands-on experience at the on-campus coffee shop. The program blends real-world practice with intentional instruction. As a result, it creates a supportive environment where students can build confidence and independence.

Additionally, students practice greeting customers, taking and writing orders, and preparing a variety of hot beverages, including specialty lattes. These daily interactions give students opportunities to develop communication skills, follow multi-step tasks, and apply workplace routines in an authentic setting.

New Equipment Expands Learning Opportunities

The NFAR grant allowed the school to purchase a new espresso machine. This expands both the menu and the scope of skills students can learn. With the upgraded equipment, students can now practice more advanced beverage preparation techniques that better reflect industry standards.

“By combining practical job training with speech and language development, Coffee Corner helps prepare students for future employment while fostering independence, social connection, and pride in their work,” said Champa Kiam, speech-language pathologist assistant, Sierra School of San Diego.

Preparing Students for the Future

The Sierra School of San Diego is an educational program serving the academic, behavioral, social, and emotional needs of students grades 1–12 (aged 6-21), including, but not limited to, autism spectrum disorders, emotional disabilities, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and other health impairments.