Starbucks announces first U.S. ‘Signing Store’ for deaf and hard of hearing customers

Get ready for an entirely new Starbucks experience in the U.S. 

The coffee company announced Thursday that it will open the first U.S. store to be run in American Sign Language (ASL). The store will begin welcoming customers in Washington, D.C., in October. Starbucks launched its first-ever “Signing Store,” located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, two years ago.

The Washington, D.C., store will hire roughly two dozen deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing employees, all of whom will be proficient in ASL. 

The store itself will include “DeafSpace” design modifications and service practices that create the best possible experience for deaf and hard of hearing customers, including low-glare reflective surfaces and clear sight lines for open communication. In general, deaf-accessible design focuses on architectural elements in five categories: acoustics, sensory reach, space and proximity, mobility and proximity, and light and color.  Read more…

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