Starbucks has announced that it's going to be opening its very first "Signing Store" in the US for customers that are deaf or have hearing impairments. [Starbucks launched its first-ever "Signing Store," located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, two years ago.] Approximately 20 to 25 of the partners who will be hired to work at the Signing Store will have partial or complete hearing loss, and all of the employees will be required to know how to converse using American Sign Language. Deaf baristas will don aprons with the company's name embroidered in ASL. Hearing employees capable of signing will wear an "I Sign" pin. If a customer doesn't speak sign language, they'll have access to directions for making and receiving an order.

The branch of the coffee chain will be launched in October this year in Washington DC, close to Gallaudet University, which educates students who are either deaf or hard of hearing. Businesses surrounding Gallaudet have taken steps to be inclusive of deaf and hard-of-hearing residents.

press release "Starbucks to Open First U.S. Signing Store"