Starbucks Opens First U.S. 'Signing Store'

Starbucks opening its first U.S. 'Signing Store' catering to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing customers in Washington DC.

WASHINGTON, DC -- Fox News' Lauren Blanchard on Starbucks unveiled on Tuesday its first United States-based store designed specifically for Deaf and Hard of Hearing customers near Gallaudet University in the D.C.

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Located in Washington, D.C., the “signing store” employs about 20 to 25 people - all of whom know American Sign Language. And to allow for easier hand movements and better communication, it features lower tables and counters, brighter lights and no background music.

“We’ll teach them some signs, ‘Here’s my name, what’s your name, pointing to the apron,’ Starbucks store manager Matthew Gilsbach said on Tuesday. “It’s a nice way to make that customer’s experience legendary, and that connection happen.”

The store also offers a picture menu so customers can point to which items they’d like to order, and an iPad so they can write down what they want.

Starbucks collaborated with Gallaudet University, the only one in the world that caters to the Deaf and partial-hearing community to create the store.

In 2016, the Seattle-based coffee giant first opened a “Signing Store” in Malaysia.

“This is a historic moment in Starbucks’ ongoing journey to connect with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, hire and engage Deaf and Hard of Hearing partners, and continue to find ways to be more inclusive, accessible and welcoming to all,” Rossann Williams, the executive vice president of U.S. retail for Starbucks, said in a news release.

SOURCE FOX Business

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Deaf Baby 'Sings' With Dad In ASL Goes Viral

This incredibly sweet video of New Jersey dad singing to Deaf daughter is going viral all over social media.

KEARNY, New Jersey -- A Deaf father from New Jersey has been garnering national attention for a video showing him signing the classic "If You're Happy And You Know It" for his clearly delighted Deaf daughter Bayleigh.

The 13-second video trended on YouTube and was picked up by the "Today" show website and People.com, among other outlets over the last week.

Kevin Nadrowski, who was born Deaf but who tells Today that his family "had no idea what to do with me," encourages hearing parents to learn American Sign Language and teach it to their children very early, which can increase the rate of verbal development and improves cognitive and emotional development.

"I feel great about it," Nadrowski tells People of the video. "Lots of people face challenges in life and hopefully through my video, they can say, 'If this deaf father can sing a song in American Sign Language with his Deaf daughter, the sky is not limited."

Nadrowski is separated from Bayleigh's mother Jessica Schwabe, but she tells People that Nadrowski "always brings out the best for Bayleigh ... Seeing this video is showing not only me, but the world, that they are an inspiration and their love only grows stronger with time."

SOURCE - NJ.com