Starbucks to Open ‘Signing Store’ for Deaf Customers

The location will be near Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., and employees will know American Sign Language.

July 20, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Starbucks will soon have its first U.S. location specifically designed to be comfortable for hearing impaired customers, USA Today reports. The store will be near Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., which is a school for deaf students.

Starbucks will staff the “Signing Store” with workers who are partially or completely deaf and who know American Sign Language (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,” the company said in a statement.

The coffee chain has one other signing store, which is in Malaysia. American Starbucks workers went to visit the store in preparation of opening one in the United States. Hearing impaired baristas at the U.S. store will have ASL aprons indicating their status, while hearing employees who know ASL will have “I Sign” pins. The store’s décor will have low-glare reflective surfaces, as well as exclusive artwork and a custom mug made by a deaf artist.

“Starbucks has taken an innovative approach to incorporating deaf culture that will increase employment opportunities as well as accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing people, while at the same time educating and enlightening society,” said Howard Rosenblum, CEO of the National Association of the Deaf.

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