Brewing Success: New Coffee Bar Internship Program Empowers Students with Autism (a Reflection from Donald Rubendall)

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March 12, 2026

The Timothy School is doing incredible work helping students with autism build real-world skills and confidence through hands-on learning experiences.

I had the privilege of witnessing their work firsthand at the grand opening of their new IKEA coffee bar, where I was the first customer, followed by my colleagues, paralegal Lisa Chapman and attorney Pete Nakonechni.  Students like Josh, who served as our barista, will get to develop and practice customer service, communication, and job skills in a fun, supportive environment that celebrates their abilities.

The room was filled with laughter, excitement, and Suzy-Jo Donuts as the school community came together to celebrate.  Watching Josh in action was truly inspiring – he did a fantastic job!

These meaningful experiences show how The Timothy School creates opportunities for students to build confidence while learning skills they can carry into their futures.  Here at Rubin Fortunato, we’re grateful to be part of a Firm that supports such impactful programs, and we were honored to contribute to making the coffee bar possible.

Donald Rubendall, Lisa Chapman, Josh, and Pete Nakonechni