Ordering an iced, half-caff, no whip, double shot, extra sweet, caramel macchiato is going to be a little bit easier for deaf and hearing-impaired Starbucks customers.
The coffee giant has announced that they will open an all-signing store in Washington D.C. this October.
Starbucks will open its first signing store in the US! https://t.co/ajagBNMQhP #ASL #a11y #coffeetime pic.twitter.com/yB9PLeDc4W
— NW Access Fund (@NWAccessFund) July 19, 2018
The signing store will be staffed by individuals fluent in American Sign Language and will be rich with deaf-friendly designs including low-glare reflective surfaces and wide, open spaces for effective signing communication.
If that weren’t enough, this location will also sell merchandise and artwork done by deaf artists.
Howard A. Rosenblum, CEO of the National Association of the Deaf, had this to say. “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”
While this will be the chain’s first signing venture in the U.S., they have operated a signing store in Malaysia since 2016.
