Abilities awareness in a coffeeshop setting

A key part of the mission of Bill's Coffeeshop in Iowa City is bringing together social work students and individuals with disabilities from the community. Together, they are the staff of the coffeeshop. And together they learn from each other.

Students who are part of the coffeeshop come two or three times a week.If possible, each student is matched with one person on the regular staff. Students aren't given any specific information in advance about the particular abilities or disabilities of the staff.

This can create some anxiety on the part of students who have had little or no association with individuals with disabilities. Early in the
semester, I have been asked questions such as: "How will I know what to say? What if i say the wrong thing?"

In response, I have said: "Just be yourself, just be a person and you'll be okay. Let a staff person's abilities unfold as you work with her."

The emphasis in the coffeeshop is on learning about each other in a setting which is supportive and non-threateneing for all. It is not formal school, but more like natural learning. That matches with the ideas of
social work founder Jane Addams, who urged that learning be a "mutual
exchange."

This is an approach which has been successful for many years in the coffeeshop. Early in the semester, conversations between students and regular staff can be rather formal. But after several weeks the
informality of the coffeeshop takes hold. Students and staff not only are talking informally while working together, but are also engaged in otherprojects ranging from playing cards ti discussing the day's news.

It is a delightful process to experience. I think of it as the "spirit of Bill" still at work around us.