Inclusion · Community · Purpose · Joy

Skills of Life Cafe was developed from a passion to support local teens and young adults that are neurodiverse and with mild intellectual disabilities by providing a supportive, yet challenging community supported vocational training program. Our goal is to foster strength in abilities, improve self-awareness, develop confidence and leadership, and to support the path to independence. These enhanced job skills can then be bridged to true opportunities in attaining competitive and meaningful employment in the community they live.

Our History

Skills of Life Cafe was launched in 2024 as a 501C3 nonprofit to support individuals with disabilities who are often overlooked for competitive employment due to assumptions about their abilities, and not their actual potential.

Our Leadership

Our owner and Executive Director is a licensed occupational therapist with extensive experience in both educational settings and healthcare rehabilitation. Her professional background informs every aspect of our program, ensuring that the needs of individuals with diverse learning styles and abilities are thoughtfully addressed.

About Skills of Life Café

Skills of Life Café was founded in response to a clear need — one for meaningful, structured, and supportive work experiences for individuals who benefit from extra time, repetition, and guided learning.

We created a job training café that bridges the gap between potential and opportunity. Interns participate in hands-on learning supported by a structured curriculum that emphasizes:

• Soft skills development
• Customer service and communication
• Order and time management, and improvement in task completion
• Team collaboration and workplace etiquette

At Skills of Life Café, interns are encouraged to take on real responsibilities in a cafe and supportive environment. They are given the freedom to make mistakes, the space to learn from them, and the guidance to grow. As a result, they build not only workplace skills, but also self-confidence, independence, and pride in their progress.