{"id":10011,"date":"2025-08-19T16:36:59","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T14:36:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deaf24.com\/un-starbucks-en-langue-des-signes-ouvre-a-washington\/"},"modified":"2025-08-19T16:56:42","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T14:56:42","slug":"un-starbucks-en-langue-des-signes-ouvre-a-washington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deaf24.com\/en\/un-starbucks-en-langue-des-signes-ouvre-a-washington\/","title":{"rendered":"Starbucks Opens First American Sign Language Caf\u00e9"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On October 23, 2018, Starbucks made history in the United States by opening its first caf\u00e9 where staff communicate primarily in American Sign Language (ASL). Located in Washington, D.C., this unique caf\u00e9 aims to provide a welcoming space for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, inspired by a successful concept in Malaysia. The initiative reflects Starbucks\u2019 ongoing efforts to promote inclusivity and accessibility in everyday experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Starbucks Opens First Sign Language Store For Deaf and Hearing Impaired Customers\" width=\"1170\" height=\"658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HCnPNAO797I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Caf\u00e9 Where Signs Speak Louder Than Words<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At first glance, the Starbucks in Washington looks like any other branch in the city: clean, modern design, green aprons over black shirts, and shelves filled with pastries and coffee. However, inside, there is a noticeable difference. The atmosphere is calm, and the majority of conversations and orders are conducted entirely in ASL. Customers place orders, chat with friends, and interact with staff using visual language, creating an environment that is both accessible and respectful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For many Deaf customers, this is a significant change from typical coffee shops. Rebecca Witzofsky, a 20-year-old student at Gallaudet University\u2014one of the few universities in the world dedicated to Deaf and hard-of-hearing students\u2014explains the importance: \u201cIn a regular Starbucks, I either try to speak and hope they understand me or show my order on my phone. Here, your name appears on a screen when your drink is ready. You don\u2019t have to strain to hear or explain yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Inspired by Malaysia\u2019s Example<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Washington Starbucks caf\u00e9 follows the model of a similar outlet opened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2016. Students and young adults from the Deaf community, like Rebecca and her friend Nikolas Carapellatti, were eagerly awaiting its opening. The caf\u00e9 provides a space where Deaf individuals can socialize, eat, and interact without barriers. \u201cIt gives Deaf people a place outside of campus to connect and relax,\u201d Rebecca says. This type of initiative helps build a sense of community and inclusion, offering experiences that many take for granted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Unique Features of the Caf\u00e9<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This Starbucks caf\u00e9 incorporates multiple elements to celebrate Deaf culture and make the space engaging for both Deaf and hearing visitors. A \u201csign of the week\u201d board teaches simple ASL gestures, such as the sign for coffee, where two fists rotate against each other. Customers can purchase large cups designed by a Deaf artist, and the caf\u00e9 features an ASL transcription of the Starbucks logo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Broader Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The opening of the ASL Starbucks comes after a challenging period for the company. Earlier in 2018, Starbucks faced criticism after two African American men were arrested in a Philadelphia caf\u00e9, prompting calls for a boycott. The company temporarily closed its 8,000 U.S. stores for racial bias training and later apologized, emphasizing its commitment to equality and inclusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This ASL caf\u00e9 represents a proactive step toward accessibility, showing that Starbucks is investing in more than just coffee\u2014it is also promoting social inclusion. By hiring Deaf and hard-of-hearing staff and creating an environment where everyone can communicate comfortably, Starbucks highlights how businesses can adapt to serve diverse communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Similar Initiatives Abroad<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">France has also seen Deaf-friendly establishments. In Toulouse, \u201cL\u2019Oreille Cass\u00e9e,\u201d opened on August 7, 2018, is run by two Deaf managers. Customers order tapas using hand signs, eliminating the need to shout or rely on hearing staff. The restaurant-bar quickly gained popularity, demonstrating a growing interest in spaces designed for accessible communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Starbucks ASL caf\u00e9 in Washington, D.C., is more than just a coffee shop. It is a space that empowers the Deaf community, promotes social interaction, and encourages understanding between Deaf and hearing people. With features that celebrate Deaf culture and staff trained in ASL, the caf\u00e9 provides a model for inclusivity in public spaces. Similar initiatives worldwide, like the Deaf-run restaurant in Toulouse, show that businesses can create welcoming environments that bridge communication gaps. By opening its doors to this innovative concept, Starbucks sets an example for other companies to follow, proving that accessibility and community can go hand in hand\u2014even over a cup of coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u00a9 Capture d&#8217;\u00e9cran YouTube<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On October 23, 2018, Starbucks made history in the United States by opening its first caf\u00e9 where staff communicate primarily in American&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10007,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[238],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sign-language"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deaf24.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10011","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deaf24.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deaf24.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deaf24.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deaf24.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10011"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/deaf24.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10011\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10014,"href":"https:\/\/deaf24.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10011\/revisions\/10014"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deaf24.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deaf24.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deaf24.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10011"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deaf24.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}