Coffee cups designed by hearing-impaired artists are available for sale at the store. [Photo/Xinhua]

Refuse to go silent

At first, the hearing-impaired baristas tend to turn to those without impairment for a quick-fix when they run into troubles. Now, they are encouraged to use writing pads as a supplementary communication tool with customers.

After eight hours of work, Chen Zizhong often goes to hospitals to help those with hearing impairments visit doctors as a translation volunteer.

"The disabled and other partners are not two pieces of a puzzle. The merging of their worlds needs patience and communication," says Chen Fangqi, noting that the hearing-impaired are also raring to engage in the world and to be of service to society.

With growing customer traffic and the clatter of coffee machines, each hearing-impaired staff member has been given an electronic watch connected to the ovens that vibrates and flashes to alert busy baristas when the food being heated is done. Such technology solutions are catching up with the usual requirements of some staff. Functions including timing and calling for help are expected to be added in the near future.

Every Sunday afternoon, the signing store also holds a class to teach sign language to customers. Chen Fangqi also learned some in daily conversation with her hearing-impaired colleagues.

Currently, more than 120 baristas with hearing impairments are working in Starbucks nationwide, and the number is expected to grow as the company plans to open more specialized cafes like these in China's major cities such as Hangzhou and Shanghai.

In the store, a huge painting designed by a hearing-impaired artist hangs on the wall. Inside one of the wool balls in the painting, which resemble coffee beans, hides one of Chen Zizhong's wildest dreams－"I hope to become a Starbucks store manager someday."