Dorothy's Can-Do Cafe, located in Chicago's Lincoln Square at 4925 N. Lincoln Avenue, offers two years of work in which people with disabilities learn to bake and serve customers. The café is a Gateway to Learning special education and training center.
"Dorothy, the founder of Gateway, felt that there was no place good enough for her two special needs children so she started gateway to learning and she based it on food service so they're cooking there're baking lunches," Executive Director Cheryl Hennelly, said. "So I thought let's bring the community to Gateway so that's how the café Dorothy's can do began."
All the baked goods are made in the kitchen.
Joan Dunne's daughter, Coleen, is 28 years old.
"Coleen was going to Special Olympics last Friday, and that was the first week they were open here and she [said], 'Mom I would rather be at the café.'"
After the eight-stage program, Dorothy's Can-Do Café workers go into other jobs.
"We will get them out in the community working another job, not here at Gateway, [but] where they are comfortable," Hennelly said.
The café opened on June 10. Already, Dorothy's is looking to expand.
"We are hoping to bring what they are cooking for lunch into here to serve people can buy" 4:42
Dorothy's Can-Do Café is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check out the café's menu at http://www.gtlcandocafe.com/
