The service is friendly.
there was one scenario a few years ago where someone was unwilling to communicate with me (deaf) and after five mins of struggle & requesting either a 1. Pen on paper 2. Writing in either of our 'notes' section on Apple Phone or 3. Asking if theres someone around who knows sign - the first two denied and third was not availble.
I've moved to Toronto, the is last time was just a visit
Then they wrote down "no, i wont communicate with you on notes but you can leave the line up and order online and return like everyone else" (this was after 20 minutes of waiting in line with my notes of what I wanted already written out, but I had the questions "which of these two items are preferred number 1 or number 2 (listed the names down so that it was closed ended" and " which is less sweet, or preferably is there a 'no-sugar' option"
Eventually she wrote in notes (still avoiding he question)
"If you're deaf why didn't you come with an interpreter"
Followed by "make coffee at home, then its super easy get one of those machines and you have all the choices in the world, you're so cute omg do you hav instagram ?"
Im even tempered so I chalked it up to a yonge age, and a product of our the generation and the environment we are around. I took the opportunity to educate and to let this be a learning Opportunity for them to make better choices in the future.
I said - "pardon me" and I left. With no other words.
I sat on the ledge of the window that exists at this location.
I happened to have just visited the Starbucks in Washington.
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/asl-starbucks-opens-washington-dc/index.html
Click the link or google ASL-STARBUCKS-WASHINGTON
This store is dedicated to people united by sign language and Deaf Culture.
This type of inclusive language brings in people who are deaf and hard of hearing; CODAs (hearing Children of Deaf Adults) or SODA (Siblings of a Deaf Adult) people who are deaf and blind; and also others.
I left a link that offered the largest open source, free, teaching option for children and their parents to learn American Sign Language.
The majority of us Deaf are born to parents who are hearing and the majority of them do not learn any sign language and many of us are forced to have invasive surgeries.
Myself - I was one of the people who had a failed device and it impacted me greatly.
The majority of deaf people are just severely hard of hearing but i have no hearing - we consider ur selves equals is not about who hears less or more but i have no sound to go off of. With masks you can imagine how much more difficult it is and for those who don't hear 'well' but hear 'nonsensical sound' its not much easier for them (IF easy at all) for others - clear speaking or slow speech or amplified speech helps, but we are all diffEvent and unique. not all of use sign lnaguage. I do - but it's important to ask what their preference for communication is .
As the article stated "signers and non signers"
That said --I did the research on the drink myself to save her the time.
From there, i offered one last link with my name that highly recommended to please read about us that evening.
I then taught her two signs. One as I was done ordering, one while I was waiting for my drink.
If we yell or argue, or cause a fuss. It can be hurtful or embarrassing to one or all people involved. There's many ways to handle a situation but ultimately no matter how bad any situations IS or how bad it READS, we have no idea what someone else has to deal with in THEIR life.
(Some People still roll their eyes at this)
But, she could have, with all possibility - been in a coma for 3 years. She could be cognitively impaired.
She herself could be a new hard of hearing person - what if I asked HER what she needed?
What if it's her first day so shes just mumbling words and absolutely terrified and its her first job and her first day?
The community isn't just connected by language..it's connected by the fact we are all human. We need each other in ways we cant put into words.
2nd chances matter. Human decency & courage matter. None of us are perfect. When we take an opportunity to educate even if WE ourselves are hurt...we grow the community and we grow the willingness and desire of a hearing individual to learn sign language. Kindness spreads and while it doesn't spread as quick as hate - it's needed NOW more than ever.
You might be wondering why I left this a 5 start review.
This girl apologized.
I returned a week later. Same girl, same drink. within seconds tears came to her eyes.
She hesitated, looked up, thinking.
Then she put her mind and hands together and recalled something she must have learned on the website I gave her.
She looked up at me, gave me the receipt, and said "thank you" in sign language & got the attention of the customer behind me as I walked toward my drink, tapped me, I turned to the barista and she said Signed "sorry" read more