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brooklynite

(93,843 posts)
Thu Jul 19, 2018, 01:00 PM Jul 2018

Starbucks to open first US store staffed by employees who know sign language

Source: The Hill

Starbucks is opening its first U.S. cafe staffed by employees who are partially or fully deaf, allowing customers to order in American Sign Language (ASL).

An existing Starbucks near Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. will be converted into a Signing Store in October, the company announced Thursday.

The coffee shop at Sixth and H Streets will be staffed by roughly 20 people who are proficient in ASL.

"The store will create a distinctive retail experience for all customers, while offering a unique store format that promotes accessibility and offers employment and career advancement opportunities for deaf and hard of hearing people," Starbucks said in a statement.

Read more: http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/397884-starbucks-to-open-first-store-staffed-entirely-by-employees-who-can



What's ASL for "get out or I'll call the police?"
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Starbucks to open first US store staffed by employees who know sign language (Original Post) brooklynite Jul 2018 OP
My daughter took ASL for her second language requirement Major Nikon Jul 2018 #1
Thank your daughter!!! SWBTATTReg Jul 2018 #2

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
1. My daughter took ASL for her second language requirement
Thu Jul 19, 2018, 01:03 PM
Jul 2018

Nobody we know uses it, but she did so in order to enhance her employment opportunities. I think more businesses are starting to realize there's an untapped marketing opportunity catering to the hearing impaired.

SWBTATTReg

(21,856 posts)
2. Thank your daughter!!!
Thu Jul 19, 2018, 01:52 PM
Jul 2018

This is so nice and so thoughtful to those of us who are hearing impaired. I'm over 95% impaired, and yes I do wear hearing aids, but they don't help 100%, especially in noisy or distracted environments. Its to the point that I pretty well don't hear anything anymore and more or less, rely on my 3 dogs if someone comes to the front door and so forth. The phone could be ringing right in front of me and I wouldn't even hear it.

The best thing for me that worked is lip reading (I went to school to learn), which was the required medium for hard of hearing folks prior to ASL, and hooking up everything to lights when activated.

There is a huge market for those of us w/ severe hearing loss...I've worn out several TVs when the volume control worn out. As more and more of us get older (including me), more and more of us will get hearing aids, more and more of us will need more help in our hearing comprehension and the like. I even bring a hearing companion to the doctor when I feel like I need it, so I won't miss anything that the doctor may tell me.

Again, thank your daughter, who is a 'smart' cookie when it comes to recognizing emerging trends and tailoring one's abilities to take advantage of it!

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