r e s t a u r a n t & b a r where noise meets silence
TRANSCRIPT
Agenda
The Concept Deaf Community Our Goals Our School Program The Experience The Learning Conclusion
The Concept
Unique restaurant mostly staffed with the Deaf
The Service, The Interaction & The Learning
Understanding of the Deaf Culture
An all-inclusive environment
Diversity
How It All Started?
Idea – While working at a Boston Pizza??
My first time with Sign Language
Knowledge from MBA at Ryerson
The Communication Barrier – First Interaction with the Deaf
Community Looking at the Concept from a
business perspective
How does it work?
Hearing hosts introduce Hearing Guests to Deaf Servers
Deaf Servers teach Hearing Guests some basic Sign Language (transition)
Deaf Servers use Ipads to take orders Guests use Sign Language in cheat-book & Menus to
Interact with Deaf Servers. Deaf Servers teach sign to Guests from Cheat Book.
Our Business Goals To become the best restaurant in Canada that:
Provides exquisite food and drinks that meet the highest standards of quality, freshness and seasonality and combines both modern-creative and traditional styles of cooking.
Provide impeccable service by demonstrating warmth, graciousness, professionalism and integrity.
Provide our hearing guests with a learning experience and a great interaction with the Deaf Community.
Provide our Deaf guests with fantastic service and feel-like-home environment
Give all the staff who work with us a friendly, cooperative and rewarding environment which encourages long- term, satisfying and growing career.
Our Goals for the Deaf Community Bridge the Gap between
the Deaf & the Hearing Creating Awareness for
the Deaf Community Show that given the tools,
Deaf can work in different fields
Spreading Sign Language within the Hearing Community
Showcase Deaf Talents
Intriguing Facts about SIGNS! First Canadian Restaurant Staffed
with the Deaf First Concept in the world that hires
Deaf as front-line workers! Signs has over 50 staff and around
36 are Deaf. First Restaurant to have a Deaf
supervisor and a Deaf Assistant Manager.
First Innovative Concept in the world that breaks down the barrier between Deaf and the Hearing.
Facts About Signs… Continued… First restaurant in Canada that provides a dining experience as
well as a learning experience.
First Deaf for-profit business that caters to the General Public.
World’s first for-profit restaurant Concept that is truly all-inclusive (There is no discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, race, sexual orientation or disability).
Signs Restaurant Food
Contemporary Cuisine Canadian / Multi-Cultural Food Make everything from Scratch (Fries, bread, dessert
etc) Special Seasonal food everyday Made to Order Dessert Special Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegetarian and Vegan
Options Local ingredients, fresh food!
The Learning Experience
Deaf Culture Using Sign Language The difficulties faced
by people from different cultures
Social Awareness Social Responsibility Equal Treatment
Implementing the Concept
Securing the Location Identifying Potential employees Working on the service process Building the RESTAURANT! Hiring the Employees Creating the Menu Making the food, Creating SOPS Creating Staff Policies Staff Training!
The Deaf Community Oppressed and secluded for a long time
Use Sign Language to communicate
Limited Employment Opportunity – High levels of unemployment & Underemployment
Career Opportunities are Limited, but growing very slowly
Education – mostly at RIT or Gallaudet University
Job Opportunity for the Deaf?
Question: Can you name some career
options that are available for a Deaf person in the
Hearing World?
Signs Target Market
Tourists (intrigued by the Concept)Families with KidsLGBTQQIP2SAA+ CommunityCorporations for Lunches & EventsUniversity Students for the Bar!Schools for Field Trips / After Exam Party!
ABOUT US - Media Attention
Global News National
ABC News CBS
Right This Minute
Achievements! Top 5 restaurants in Tripadvisor! More than 4+ rating in all restaurant review sites! Best Employer, unsung hero & achievement award!
Future Opening more Signs Restaurant Franchises Opening more businesses for the Deaf Goal to open the first school for Deaf Hospitality in
Canada Creating more number of all inclusive organizations Spreading awareness
Accessibility – The Big Problem?
The City of Toronto – Does it support Accessibility? Currently fighting the City to ensure the
Accessibility future of Toronto Toronto has strict By-laws – Preventing businesses
from being accessible Can our ramp will decide the future of Toronto’s
Accessibility?