A unique collaboration with Truman Elementary School, a parent and a Drury University student has resulted in a $10,000 prize being awarded to help expand a program that empowers students with special needs.

Truman operates a Rolling Cart Café that is staffed by students with autism and other special needs. Teacher Jean Lawson and students Chase and Gabe (pictured) participated in an assembly April 19 and accepted the prize from the UCT Gives Back Again campaign on behalf of their communication, sensory, social class.

Twice a day a CSS student rolls the cart throughout the school to serve beverages and snacks to teachers, allowing them to practice life skills like handling money, making change and interacting with others. Other students assist with stocking the cart, accounting functions and inventory.

 

The program is so successful that a parent mentioned it to a Drury student who has a brother with autism. The Drury student created a video about the project and entered it into the UCT Gives Back Again 2017 video contest. United Commercial Travelers is an international benefit organization that unites people with a common passion for volunteerism to improve local communities. The video won first place, which comes with a $10,000 prize to help support Truman's Rolling Cart Café and expand the program to other SPS schools.