Deaf Barista Brutally Stabbed, Robbed

Deaf News: Thembelihle Quze, who is Deaf and works at the coffee cafe, was robbed at knifepoint and stabbed.


CAPE TOWN -- Cape Argus: A Deaf man from Gugulethu who survived a near-death experience when he was stabbed twice in the chest and arm during an armed robbery said he fears for his life. Thembelihle Quze, 23, who recently re-integrated in society when he started working at a coffee shop in Claremont, said Saturday’s attack had made him vulnerable again. He was stabbed while walking home after visiting a friend near his home in Gugulethu NY111.

“Two men came walking towards me, I saw them talking but was not able to hear what they were saying. The one guy came up to me and demanded money. I tried to tell them I didn’t have any, but they weren’t even paying attention to me as I signed. The one guy pocketed me and then stabbed me.”

The two men fled the scene and Quze was helped by neighbours who had seen him. “I could not scream for help. I feel they targeted me because I am deaf; right now I am too scared to leave the house, I have no one to chat to,” Quze said, speaking through a sign language interpreter. For the past seven months, Quze had been working at I Love Coffee in Claremont as a barista. At the coffee shop, which comprise mostly Deaf employees, he acquired social and life skills training which is said to have helped him interact with others.

Quze had started gym training and was also teaching clients sign language. A part of his job also included travelling to Joburg which his father, Mbuyiselo Mbali, said encouraged Quze to be more social. “He refuses to leave the house and we, too, fear for his life. In this area, Deaf people are targets. My son right now is in pain, the stitches in his chest are bleeding. This is not right,” said Mbali. He said the incident changed his son. Coffee shop owner, Gary Hopkins said the sweat classes at the gym had helped Quze defend himself during the robbery.

He said the coffee shop, which employs mostly Deaf youth as part of its social enterprise work, hired Deaf people to escape violence and to boost the employment rate. Part of the work programme includes life skills training. “Most Deaf children grow up in homes where they are overprotected. They become easy targets because they don’t have the necessary life skills. “Thembe (his nickname), because of the gym partnership we have, has become quite an athlete. He was able to protect himself and smart enough not to carry money on him,” said Hopkins.

First Deaf Canadian Iron Worker With Certificate

Deaf News: Winnipeg iron worker receives red seal certificate in Canada.



CTV WINNIPEG -- Jonathon Anderson is a qualified tradesman. At 26 years of age, he's the first Deaf Canadian iron worker with a red seal certificate.



The national designation lets qualified tradespeople use their skills anywhere in the country, something Anderson said he’s very proud of.



“I'm very happy to be doing what I am doing,” Anderson explained using American Sign Language. “I love my job."



Anderson was diagnosed as Deaf shortly after his first birthday, when his parents noticed he was sleeping through loud noises.



His parents said he never let his hearing impairment get in the way of what he wanted to do.



“He learned to adapt, he couldn't hear but he always had his way of communicating," his mother Bertha Anderson said.



Growing up in Winnipeg, Anderson attended the Manitoba School for the Deaf and St.James Collegiate.



According to his mother, Anderson played hockey and football with the help of an interpreter and by finding unique ways to communicate with his teammates.



“The coaches would often write on the white board to help with the communication,” she said.



Anderson attended Red River College where he earned his iron working qualifications.



Last spring he took his red seal examination and passed.



On Sunday family, friends and mentors gathered at Union Centre to celebrate Anderson’s achievement.



Throughout his career Anderson has worked across the country, but his most significant job was at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.



It’s the building he is most proud to have helped build.



"My parents will say my son helped build that building and my sons will say daddy worked there," he explained.



Anderson has also worked on many other buildings in the city, including the RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg, University of Manitoba and True North Square.



He hopes what he has accomplished will inspire youth who also live with a hearing impairment to chase their dreams.



"I want to show people that Deaf people can work with people who are not Deaf," Anderson said.



“You can succeed and prove them wrong if they say you can’t, show them that you can."



SOURCE



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Starbucks Opening Café Staffed By Deaf Baristas

VIDEO [CC] - A Starbucks store in Malaysia has become the first in the global coffee chain to focus on providing employment opportunities for Deaf people.



KUALA LUMPUR -- Seattle Times: A Starbucks store in Malaysia has become the first in the global coffee chain to focus on providing employment opportunities for those who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing.



The store in Kuala Lumpur, which opened Wednesday, results from a partnership between Starbucks Malaysia and The Society of Interpreters for the Deaf, the company said.



The society provided Starbucks with two sign-language interpreters during hiring, training and coaching for Deaf employees, and to teach sign language to hearing employees, according to a Starbucks news release.

The store employs 10 Deaf employees and three hearing ones, including the store manager.



“This is an underrepresented community in Malaysia,” a Starbucks spokeswoman said. “Over the years, the team has worked with local organizations to hire Deaf partners [employees] and we wanted to celebrate and recognize the contributions of Deaf workers and people of all disabilities.”



Customers place their orders by filling out a menu ticket that they hand to the baristas. The baristas then key in the orders on a dual-screen system where customers can see if their order is correct. The order number is displayed on a large screen above the pickup counter when it’s ready.



The store also has a Starbucks Card kiosk where customers can check their card balances and reward-program points.



Starbucks currently has no plans to replicate this model beyond the Malaysia store, the spokeswoman said.



SOURCE



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