Improvment of vocational mathematical skills of individuals with intellectual disability working as cafe waiters

The purpose of this study is to observe the development process of the mathematical skills, required in waiters with intellectual disability working in a cafe in Eskisehir. The participants of the study are; two waiters with intellectual disability working as waiters at the cafe, the workplace staff, the waiters' mothers, members of the validity committee, dissertation members of the supervisory committee, and the researcher. The research was designed as an action research which was carried out in two stages defined as the "Determining the situation" stage and the "Implementation" stage. The situation was determined by assessing the current skill levels of the waiters, the skill levels which were required, and the possible problems which were encountered. In the light of the data obtained, activities aiming to teach mathematical skills were planned and performed on the second floor of the cafe, in a simulation environment within the framework of RME. During this process, numbers and the independent ordering skills were taught to the waiters with intellectual disabilities. Then, on-the-job applications were carried out in the real business environment. At the end of this phase, the waiters with intellectual disability reached demonstrated that they acquired the necessary mathematical skills to perform this profession independently. Interviews with cafe waiters, families, and workplace staff at the end of the research reveal that the practice presented within the framework of RME contributes to the development of the mathematical skills of the waiters.