Order up! CaliKid Burgers ‘n Shakes served up an opportunity to build job skills during National Disability Employment Awareness Month for participants in Easterseals Northern California’s Kaleidoscope Community Adult Program (KCAP) for individuals with developmental disabilities, like autism and Down syndrome. .
“Our crew got a little bigger this month!” CaliKid shared on social media after the visits.
Six KCAP participants from the Dublin, Calif., location got a taste of a real-world working enviornment on Oct. 8 and 15 learning food-handling safety, delivering food to customers, interacting with visitors, filling ketchup cups, wiping down tables, branding to-go bags and helping to keep operations running smoothly.
“They were smiling with every task they were given, and they were concentrated on doing a good job,” said Sheridan Lucero, Kaleidoscope program services coordinator. “Many of our clients have expressed wanting jobs for a long time, so to see them in that setting and being so happy about it was very fulfilling.”
The participants took turns working 45-minute shifts at CaliKid’s Livermore, Calif., location. All six are also enrolled in a community college job skills course, so this was a chance to put what they’ve been learning into action and pick up a few new skills along the way.
Founded in 2021, CaliKid Burgers ’n Shakes is a fast-casual restaurant with locations in Pleasant Hill and Livermore, Cali. Known for its “hella” fresh and simple ingredients, made-to-order burgers and signature milkshakes, it emphasizes quality food and community involvement. CaliKid supports local schools, sports teams and charitable organizations as part of its commitment to giving back to the communities it serves.
“I learned how to refill the sauce, and I called out someone’s order. That was fun,” Hallie said.
“I learned how to put the stickers onto the bags,” Sean said.
“I learned to put the sauces on the side. We did the stamps,” Lucas said.
Asked whether the group worked well as a team, Joe T. answered by singing the Wonder Pets theme song: “What’s gonna work? Teamwork!” (He also wanted the record to show “I don’t watch it anymore since I’m not a kid.”) To take part, each participant gave up that day’s regularly scheduled activity: bowling, the pumpkin patch or gardening. All six said they’d like to do it again.
The good news is KCAP staff are working with CaliKid’s manager on a continuing partnership. in hopes that participants from Easterseals NorCal’s Walnut Creek location will be able to take a turn behind the counter.
When asked what they’d like to do for work someday, Sean said he wants to be a cashier at the movie theater, while Joe T. said he’d like to work on people’s cars or install DIRECTV into people’s homes.
“A big thank you to CaliKid Burgers ‘n Shakes for opening your doors to our group,” said Tatiana Chun, Easterseals Northern California’s program services coordinator. “This is real work that develops real skills in a real-world environment. We focus on teaching life and employment skills and, with it, a greater capacity for independence but local businesses play such a pivotal role in creating employment opportunities. It was great to see this come full circle. We would come for lunch days, and now they have been able to job shadow there, making it extra-special.”
As Hallie put it, “I love it! It’s like honestly such good food. It was fun.”
To learn more about Easterseals Northern California’s adult programing, visit Kaleidoscope page.
