Lunchtime food vendor Thadeus Suggs has no trouble taking an order from deaf customers
at this store in Washington's Union Market.
Communication is easy because the 23-year-old cook is fluent in American Sign Language.
Suggs, who also is deaf, began working at the market soon after it opened last year.
That's when he took a break from studying across the street at Gallaudet University
-- the only one in the world designed to accomodate Deaf and hard of hearing students.
With the help of Gallaudet interpreter Carolyn Ressler, Suggs explains what he likes about
his job.
"One nice thing is it's so close to Gallaudet, which by the way is the 'Deaf Mecca.'
And with that, we are providing services to the Gallaudet community as well as the community
at large."
Suggs can read lips and interact with people verbally, as well.
His boss at the TaKorean store, Ross Mayhood, says that makes Suggs a well-rounded communicator.
"He is probably the most valuable member of our staff.
And he has probably been a big part of how popular we are with the Gallaudet crew."
Suggs is not alone.
Deaf employees make up about 10 percent of the market's workforce.
They also attract regular customers like Cary Barbin.
"I love the fact that this is a sign language environment.
Many of the employees sign, so I can order my food in American Sign Language."
Another attraction for the deaf community is the market's user-friendly layout.
Gallaudet planning director Hansel Bauman encouraged the developer to build a "deaf
space" that is sensitive to deaf people's needs.
"In terms of visual language, to be able to see one another and communicate clearly while
you're walking.
What that means is, you're not looking at the path forward.
So you need a little bit more room."
"Union Market has tried to incorporate several aspects of deaf space into its design.
There's lots of light, all the vendors are in one big room, and the aisles between them
are wider than you would find in a typical store."
Developer Steve Boyle of EDENS says those features also have a broader objective.
"The market itself really was meant to be an anchor for the community.
It wasn't truly designed around deaf design principles, simply because we don't really
understand them the way we need to -- yet."
Alena Francis, another deaf employee, says dealing with some customers can be challenging.
"When they find out that I'm deaf, it kind of throws them off a little bit.
And sometimes people react very harshly and it's kind of hard.
They'll ignore me and just walk away."
But Suggs says the market also promotes understanding.
"I'm really happy that this was established as a business, because you know once again,
it's another place where deaf and hearing people can come together and just kind of
hang out and live together."
[Suggs] "Enjoy!"
[Male customer] "Thanks."
Michael Lipin, VOA News, Washington