For most of us, dropping by a Starbucks and ordering our favourite coffees is not anything to shout about, and it’s become part of our daily routine. But for a lot of others, it’s not that simple. People facing disabilities might not find it as easy as most people to even order a drink at a café. Starbucks is fighting to eliminate this difficulty and to be more inclusive for the less abled, by introducing their first ever café staffed mostly by deaf employees. And guess what, it’s located right here in KL!
Starbucks in Bangsar Village II is now officially dedicated to employing the deaf, and raising awareness on the employment of those with disabilities. Stepping into the familiar café doors, you’ll be greeted with the usual ‘Starbucks’ sign on the wall, but accompanied with its sign language translation too! The same appears on their partners’ (Starbucks’ word for employees) green aprons as well, and they’ll greet you with wide smiles and friendly sign language greetings as you walk in.
The staff can take your orders in sign language, but don’t sweat if you can’t speak it though! You can also place your drink orders through menu cards, and the baristas will communicate with you through simple hand gestures or hand-written notes. Check the digital board above the counter to see when your beverage is ready to be picked up, and you’ll be able to enjoy your drink like you normally do.
Another plus is that since you’ll be writing your name on the menu card yourself instead of telling the baristas (who, let’s be honest, tend to mess it up sometimes), those of us with uncommon names will finally see it spelled right on our cups!
This initiative was organized in collaboration with The Society of Interpreters for the Deaf (SID), who helped in hiring and training the hearing-impaired partners, and teaching sign language to hearing employees. Not only will this café be offering new employment opportunities to the hearing-impaired, it will also be a welcoming space for deaf and hearing customers alike.
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This is a world-first for the popular coffee franchise, and probably a first for any big-name company like Starbucks. This new opening has gained widespread attention all over the world, with many applauding Starbucks for their inclusive gesture. I personally think this is an awesome step forward for the disabled community in Malaysia! Let’s hope this will spark a trend and we’ll be seeing more of these initiatives soon!
Feature Image Credit: @aleeeeehut on Instagram
