Sydney restaurant goes deaf-friendly for hearing-impaired customers
A SYDNEY restaurant will become Australia’s first deaf-friendly eatery with mandatory sign-language training for its waitstaff.
The Express
Don't miss out on the headlines from The Express. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A SYDNEY restaurant will become Australia’s first deaf-friendly eatery with mandatory sign-language training for its waitstaff.
Rashays in Punchbowl is developing a nation-first online sign training program for Auslan sign language that can be rolled out every time a new staff member joins their team.
Owner Basham Krayem said the revolutionary concept was inspired by a regular customer who was hearing-impaired.
“I don’t think people realise how much of a difference it makes that you can speak to a customer in their language,” Mr Krayem said.
“As a restaurant we always want to give back to the community as much as we can and it’s a great initiative to be involved in.”
Raian Hoblos from local community group Sydney Deaf Muslim will help Rashays develop the program.
“There is nothing like this in the community,” Ms Hoblos said via a sign language interpreter.
“I really hope in the future more and more restaurants want to get on board and teach their staff sign language.”
Ms Hoblos said partnering with Rashays to implement the program would help merge deaf and hearing communities.
“That is my dream,” Ms Hoblos said.
“I hope we can see this program expand and the hearing community can share in deaf culture and language.”
Thousands responded with excitement to Rashays’ program launch on their Facebook page earlier this month.
Rashays at Broadway Plaza in Punchbowl is open until midnight seven days a week.