You’re in the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, and you walk into a Starbucks in hopes of satisfying your coffee craving. To your surprise, your barista can’t speak. Instead, she communicates with you in sign language.

That’s right! Starbucks has employed deaf people to work at a Starbucks located at the Bangsar Village II shopping mall in Malaysia. This store is the first of its kind globally.

The Malaysian Starbucks Chain, Berjaya Starbucks Coffee Company Sdn. Bhd., is collaborating with The Society of Interpreters for the Deaf (SID) to create employment opportunities for the deaf community.

Sydney Quays, managing director of Starbucks Malaysia, states,

“We are proud to support people with disabilities through fulfilling work to create a culture of empowerment and to bring new perspectives to the workplace, which ultimately makes us a better company,”

“We have a rich history of creating opportunities for underrepresented groups and our aim is to raise public awareness of the value people with disabilities bring to the workplace and to enrich the lives of many more Deaf partners.”

Starbucks is trying to give its Deaf partners a place to belong. To do this, Starbucks enlisted the help of SID to help develop the store. SID was founded in 1990 to support the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. Its goal was to provide equal rights and opportunities for the community.

The chairman of the Society of Interpreters for the Deaf (SID), Alvin YM Wong, has expressed his pleasure of working with Starbucks to support his deaf companions. He believes that Starbucks is giving its deaf partners a chance by encouraging them to progress in their careers. The opportunity will also cultivate a sense of pride and accomplishment that will set them on the right path.

SID has helped the store develop by providing two sign language interpreters to help translate during the hiring and training process. They will also be there to help during the working process. In addition, these interpreters will teach the employees, that can hear, sign language.

The store now consists of ten deaf employees and three hearing employees. Store manager, Evonne Lo, joined Starbucks three years back when she heard about the initiative. Ms. Lo has expressed her satisfaction in supporting and developing her deaf partners.

The new store is catered to both hearing and non-hearing consumers. The store is supplied with Starbucks Card kiosks which are used to check your card balance before you order. Customers will then fill out a Starbucks order ticket. Employees will then load your order. The order will be exhibited on a screen so consumers can verify their orders. Customers will receive their beverages when their order number is displayed on the pick-up screen.

Starbucks Malaysia has received recognition from many distinguished organizations for their welcome environment. The company was awarded Employer of Choice by Malaysia HR Awards 2015, Malaysia’s Best Employer 2015 by Aon Hewitt, and Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2015 by HR Asia and Best of the Best Award.