Am I Doing The Right Thing?

M

Morgan Anderson

New Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2016
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
As of the New year, I have been employed at a Panera Bread Cafe, and as of April, I have been practicing and learning ASL since we have a good amount of deaf individuals that come to our cafe. Our cafe didn't have anyone who would be able to communicate in ASL and I felt that learning ASL would benefit the customers and myself. I have learned enough to be confident in taking orders and since taken 5 or 6 orders, as I have been learning quite a bit from online classes and from other websites. Recently, I read online that someone who tries to use ASL that isn't fluent is seen as rude as it is not "their natural language". I just want to know if I should not use ASL at work, and instead just use other methods, such as writing/ typing/ pointing. I also want to know what you think your thoughts would be on if someone tried to use ASL to take your order, even if they are fluent. I have gotten multiple good reviews from other customers that observed me taking orders in ASL and also gotten high remarks from my managers, but I have never gotten any feedback from the ASL speaking customers themselves so i pretty much just want to know if I'm doing more harm than good. Thank you.
 
Morgan Anderson said:
As of the New year, I have been employed at a Panera Bread Cafe, and as of April, I have been practicing and learning ASL since we have a good amount of deaf individuals that come to our cafe. Our cafe didn't have anyone who would be able to communicate in ASL and I felt that learning ASL would benefit the customers and myself. I have learned enough to be confident in taking orders and since taken 5 or 6 orders, as I have been learning quite a bit from online classes and from other websites. Recently, I read online that someone who tries to use ASL that isn't fluent is seen as rude as it is not "their natural language". I just want to know if I should not use ASL at work, and instead just use other methods, such as writing/ typing/ pointing. I also want to know what you think your thoughts would be on if someone tried to use ASL to take your order, even if they are fluent. I have gotten multiple good reviews from other customers that observed me taking orders in ASL and also gotten high remarks from my managers, but I have never gotten any feedback from the ASL speaking customers themselves so i pretty much just want to know if I'm doing more harm than good. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Curious... Where did you read this?
 
Personally, I am thrilled when I encounter people who can sign. To me, every little bit helps. You don't need to be fluent for us to have a conversation. It is not rude to be learning to sign. As with any language there will be some early stage of learning and mistakes but if you don't practice you won't improve.

It is good to ask if the person signs before continuing in ASL rather than assuming every deaf person signs or wants to sign with you. Follow the deaf person's lead on how s/he wants to communicate. Depending on the environment, I may have already prepared a hand written note, other times I may point to what I want, other times I may use my voice.
 
Jezie said:
Curious... Where did you read this?
Click to expand...
I can't find the exact page at the moment, but it was a thread where someone was asking if fast food employees should learn sign language. One lady completely went off on the original poster saying that people don't understand what its like and shouldn't try to learn ASL if it isn't their first language and pretty much just bashed the poster.
 
zephren said:
Personally, I am thrilled when I encounter people who can sign. To me, every little bit helps. You don't need to be fluent for us to have a conversation. It is not rude to be learning to sign. As with any language there will be some early stage of learning and mistakes but if you don't practice you won't improve.

It is good to ask if the person signs before continuing in ASL rather than assuming every deaf person signs or wants to sign with you. Follow the deaf person's lead on how s/he wants to communicate. Depending on the environment, I may have already prepared a hand written note, other times I may point to what I want, other times I may use my voice.
Click to expand...
I would have never thought about making a note! That's such a great idea! I never really knew how to start taking the order and this will help so much! And I really appreciate the encouragement! Thank you so much Zephren
 
ah, so you saw this on AD? Curious how others responded to her... Seems a very narrow and angry view. But regardless, thank you for answering me, as for your question I would not think it is rude, but that is my personal thoughts, I have found Deaf people to be really up front and if they have an issue with you, you will be the first to know; especially with you signing :) personally feel more people to truly learn the better.
Morgan Anderson said:
I can't find the exact page at the moment, but it was a thread where someone was asking if fast food employees should learn sign language. One lady completely went off on the original poster saying that people don't understand what its like and shouldn't try to learn ASL if it isn't their first language and pretty much just bashed the poster.
Click to expand...
 
A friend of mine, when we were in a more Deaf oriented atmosphere, (in other words not going to hurt hearie feelings) , said how much that it bothered him , because they had enough trouble getting his order right when he typed it out on his phone, and adding basic ASL , he just didn't have enough patience to put up with it.
 
Bottesini said:
A friend of mine, when we were in a more Deaf oriented atmosphere, (in other words not going to hurt hearie feelings) , said how much that it bothered him , because they had enough trouble getting his order right when he typed it out on his phone, and adding basic ASL , he just didn't have enough patience to put up with it.
Click to expand...

I can see how this point of view can form... But am curious if she truly wants to learn and assist all customers how can she better address this where she is not offending or upsetting clients that do sign?
 
Jezie said:
I can see how this point of view can form... But am curious if she truly wants to learn and assist all customers how can she better address this where she is not offending or upsetting clients that do sign?
Click to expand...
I suppose she could take live courses taught by a Deaf teacher.

But I usually make things work for me. I love Panera, and I can put my order in online before I get there, or in the olden days , people would just get to know me and pretty much be prepared to interact. For a quick transaction, writing it out is much faster.
 
Thank you for answering me...

Bottesini said:
I suppose she could take live courses taught by a Deaf teacher.

But I usually make things work for me. I love Panera, and I can put my order in online before I get there, or in the olden days , people would just get to know me and pretty much be prepared to interact. For a quick transaction, writing it out is much faster.
Click to expand...
 
Jezie said:
ah, so you saw this on AD?
Click to expand...

She might have seen it elsewhere on the web? Maybe?

Morgan- For me I'm happy to see when somebody uses signs (though the more 'fluent' the better). It shows that they're interested in providing the best possible customer service. If you've already served a few deaf who do sign- chances are word of mouth will also help. Usually I get by with voice and some sign to order but these days I love the little kiosks and other ways to order lol.

Many many years ago a relative of mine who is a pharmacist was working one night, a deaf person came in- I'm not sure if they initiated signing or what but when the pharmacist started to sign (she only knew very very basic as we lived in different states and I think I had just graduated..), the deaf person was very happy to see that and started signing a mile a minute lol- had to tell them to slow down. That's how I knew about the Deaf Social when I visited her.

It's an individual opinion- don't go by some post on the 'net- go by what you see/hear/experience where you work.
 
I LOVE seeing hearing people sign. So much that I leave big tips to incentivize them to continue.

Deaf people are like all people, everyone has a different opinion.

However, I encourage you to keep on signing. Maybe you'll run into me one day and I'll leave a giant tip because you signed :)
 
I don't used ASL but I think it was very nice that you took the time to learn it for your customers that do use it . As for that person that said it rude for hearing people to learn ASL b/c it" not their natural language" she better not try to learn any foreign language but she would be "very rude" to do so ! I am sarcastic. Just keep in mind not everyone that wear hearing aids use ASL , I had people start signing to me when they see my HA. I would rather that person wait to see if I
say anything before they start signing to me.
 
Back
Top