The new vending machine in the cafeteria of Montreal’s Summit School is more than just a spot to grab a snack; it offers neurodiverse students the opportunity to learn and practice essential life and job skills.
“It’s been very positive,” said Lone Bordo, Director of Job Training & Integration at Summit School. “Actually, we’re doing quite well. The drinks are a big seller.”
“We only fill it up once a week,” she added. “But when we do, it needs to be filled, that’s for sure.”
The initiative was made possible with the help of a $5,000 grant from the Quebec government’s Volunteer Support Program, and thanks to the determination of the school’s staff who’ve been dreaming of making it a reality.
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Students, divided into two groups, meet every Friday.
Coins are counted, maintenance is done, and a grocery store visit is their favourite part, where snacks are selected and purchased themselves.
“There’s Lays and chocolate bars,” said Juvzen Galdones, one of the many students completing a stage with the vending machine project. “I use the key to open.”
Every role incorporates what students are learning in school: from social skills, reading, to math.
And while they develop their skills, so does their confidence in themselves.
“They are productive, and they make a difference,” said Bordo. “Our population is not always seen that way, and so for them to do this job, it gives them something to work towards.”
