Liberty's Station is a vocational training program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities that teaches them life and job skills with the goal of placing them in competitive employment after the program. To learn more about what their program entails, please see the frequently asked questions answered below.
Program Information
Timing of the program is dependent on the specific intern and their needs. The program is at least 6 months long with flexibility based on readiness and placement availability. Interns can be in the program for as long as needed to hone their skills and be confident in their new job placement.
This program is staffed by occupational therapists who focus on helping interns build job and independence skills during their time in the internship.
The program is broken up into 3 tiers:
Tier 1: A trial period where interns are receiving training on soft skills, job tasks, and standards that are expected as an intern. They attend one time a week for 3-4 weeks until the staff determines they are ready to move into an on-the-job training position. This tier lasts for around 3 months.
Tier 2: The next three months consists of working at the cafe in their assigned role while continuing to receive training when needed.
Tier 3: At the end of six months, staff begins to talk with interns about their job interests and goals for future employment and makes steps toward securing them a placement out in the community. This is a person-centered process and the level of support each intern needs is different. For example, some interns may need a supervisor to come with them to their potential new job to aid in transition, while others may just need to have help with finalizing their resume and practicing interview skills before applying to jobs on their own.
Transition: During the transition period, interns are placed in their new job positions with the level of supervision they prefer. Some prefer to continue working at Liberty's Station a few days per week to polish skills they need to succeed at their new job, and others may feel confident in their skills to start their new job without any support from Liberty's Station. With all of the interns, the staff at Liberty's Station make sure to be in contact with employers and interns to make sure the transition is moving smoothly.
Job tasks at Liberty's Station include:
Opening and closing tasks such as cleaning tables, sweeping, doing laundry, cleaning the bathroom, cleaning the kitchen, etc.
Shift jobs including greeter/host, busser, cashier, kitchen cook, kitchen prep, server, dishwasher, and retail assistant.
Interns may be placed in a shift job based on their current strengths with the goal of moving to other jobs based on their interests once they gain specific skills to help support them in that position.
Liberty's Station believes that potential interns with skills such as doing their own laundry, making their own lunch, ability to manage change, and ability to complete cleaning tasks with minimal assistance will thrive at a vocational training program such as Liberty's Station.
No, there is not transportation provided. Liberty's Station believes that coordinating transportation (carpool, family, etc.) is a great way for participants to gain independence.
Yes, the main goal of Liberty's Station is to have their interns get employment. The program is designed for interns to not stay at LIberty's Station forever, but to place them in a job where they will be successful and happy.
The staff works specifically with each intern to determine their goals and career aspirations to be able to place them in a job that reflects this. Liberty's Station helps with this transition by providing supervision on the job during their first few shifts and by always being in contact with interns and employers while in their new job placement to ensure it is running smoothly.
Liberty's Station makes it important to remind interns that this first job placement may not be their forever job, so it is important for them to learn proper job etiquette and respect while working with an employer (ex: giving two weeks notice before leaving a job, etc.)
It is located in Murfreesboro, TN at 850 NW Broad St, Murfreesboro, TN 37129.
Liberty's Station may be a good fit for you if:
You want to have a job in the future
You would like to gain more life skills before having a job
You are wanting to get paid while also learning employable skills
You want to gain independence while in a comfortable environment when mistakes are seen as great learning opportunities
To qualify for Liberty's Station, you have to be:
At least 18 years old or a graduate from high school
Have a diagnosed cognitive or physical disability
Have a base level of independence (dressing, eating, toileting, etc.)
Be currently seeking training for employment
Ability to communicate needs (verbally or nonverbally) and have adequate receptive language
Potential to follow multi-step directions
No significant behavior needs
Must be medically stable
Have reliable transportation to and from Liberty's Station
Have a social security number
*Liberty's Station believes that potential interns with skills such as doing their own laundry, making their own lunch, ability to manage change, and ability to complete cleaning tasks with minimal assistance will thrive at a vocational training program such as Liberty's Station.
You can apply in person or by emailing the application to delaney@LibertysStationTN.org or info@LibertysStationTN.org
Once an application is submitted, appliants will be invited to an assessment day where they will determine a candidate's base skills
After this point, the candidate will be invited back for a meeting to discuss the assessment results including their strengths and growth areas.
If selected, the occupational therapy team will create goals for the intern based on their interests and growth areas.
Applications are accepted year round, and the initial start date depends on when there is availability for an assessment.
Each cycle consists of around 3-4 interns, leading to around 15 interns in the program at a time.
Liberty's Station is funded by grants, so it is not the responsibility of the interns to pay any fees.
Yes, after the initial trial training period that typically consists of 3-4 weeks, interns will be paid during their shifts at the cafe.
Who can I contact if I have more questions?
If you still have unanswered questions, you can contact:
by email at delaney@LibertysStationTN.org or info@LibertysStationTN.org
Where can I find more information?
You can find more information from their website at: https://libertysstationtn.org/
Can I come for a tour of Liberty's Station?
Yes, Liberty's Station encourages potential applicants to come and have lunch at the cafe before applying. This can give them a sense of what they would be doing during the trianing program while also allowing them to have the opportunity to introduce themselves to current interns and staff.
Do they have social media I can follow to learn more?
Follow Liberty's Station on Instagram @libertysstationtn and like them on Facebook at Liberty's Station!