Sign Language: A New Way of Great Service

Commitment and responsibility at Starbucks

Last month, Ibby Piracha walked into his favorite Starbucks and received something great, beyond his favorite blended beverage. This deaf man approached the counter to order and his barista signed "What do you want to drink?" This fact surprised Piracha a lot because the barista actually learned to sign specifically, so Piracha and the rest of deaf customers would get the "same experience as everyone else."

After this episode, Piracha posted a photo on Facebook from his Feb. 19 visit to the Virginia Starbucks, and today, the photo has become viral, garnering more than 13,000 shares and 3,600 likes. Captioning the photo, Piracha expressed his thanks, writing that he received a blessing gesture from the employee for taking the time to learn a skill that would make his visits more enjoyable.

More information about Sign Language

Employee has learnt sign language

Sign language is a visual language that uses a system of manual, facial and body movements as the means of communication. This language is not a universal language, and different sign languages are used in different countries, like the many spoken languages all over the world. Some countries such as Belgium, the UK, the USA or India have more than one sign language. Hundreds of sign languages are in used around the world.

Do you think that learning this important means of communication is a necessary tool in fast food restaurants as in the case of Virgina Starbucks? Is this a language that each employee can learn by his/her own? Or could it be mandatory to learn at list some basic phrases for the public? There is no doubt that communicating in sign language turn the Piracha’s visits more enjoyable and pleasant, and, of course, put him at the same well-deserve place of every other customer in the restaurant.

Starbucks Employee Went Above and Beyond for a Deaf Customer