The Baaristas work via Sign Language Coffeebar, a company that now employs around seventy deaf baristas and is active at fifty locations throughout the Netherlands. The aim is to make the deaf and hard of hearing become more part of society.
“Usually when I ask people: did you come into contact with someone who is hard of hearing in the past year or six months, the answer is always no,” says Kevin van Hooft of the organization. “The great thing is that you really learn a new language here. No German or English: you really learn sign language here.”
Social talk
Customers are helped with this. At the counter is a screen with short videos showing how to place an order in sign language. “We also have a piece social talk In processed “, Van Hooft says.” For example, you learn ‘good morning’, ‘thank you’ and – under the rivers – even ‘carnival’. That makes it really fun. “
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