Restaurant staff made up of deaf workers

Atfaluna, a new restaurant in the Gaza Strip, is hoping to break down barriers for deaf people in Palestinian society.

The following post is written by Springwise and sponsored by Think Innovation Management. In communities where deafness is such a social stigma that those with hearing difficulties find it hard to get a job, one option is to raise awareness by staffing an entire company with only deaf workers, much like Indian delivery service Mirakle Couriers. Atfaluna, a new restaurant in the Gaza Strip, is now following suit in the hope of breaking down barriers for deaf people in Palestinian society. Run by the Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children, the staff at the stylish eatery have been in training for six months learning how to best communicate with customers who don’t know sign language. According to reports, the restaurant may initially use translators but hopes to eventually establish a smooth system whereby diners can order by simply pointing to options on a specially-designed menu. Given that deafness was until very recently considered to be a mental disability in the country, the enterprise aims to showcase the talents of those with hearing difficulties and well as help them engage with their community. Although the organizers are prepared for difficulties at the beginning of their project, they hope it will help bring about a shift in the perception of deaf people. Could this business model be applied in your part of the world? Spotted by: Murtaza Patel