Drive-thru services now available for deaf and hard of hearing

Miss-Delectable · 09-15-2006, 09:03 PM

ABC7Chicago.com: Drive-thru services now available for deaf and hard of hearing

Many businesses are expanding their operations with drive-thru services, but this is a challenge for customers who are deaf and hard of hearing. Now there is now a solution.

Last year, several Culver's Restaurants installed a device that is giving deaf and hard of hearing customers a chance to order from their car window.

The Culver's in Buffalo Grove is one of three restaurants that have installed order assist. It is designed to make drive-thru more efficient for both the operators, and deaf and hard of hearing customers.

"What we've done is integrated with what they've already have," said Pat.

Order assist was created by Patrick Hughes, president of Chicago-based inclusion solution.

"The customer pulls up and simply rings the bell to let the staff that rings inside. The staff now knows that the person out here is struggling with the speaker and then they pull forward and then they are handed a pen, paper and a to go menu," said Pat.

After filling out their order, the staff will prepare their food and off they go. The device costs $700.

"It's a wired bell with an oversized touch pad and obviously the signage here is clear so that anyone can pull in and understand the system," said Pat.

Culver's is the only drive-thru restaurant that is currently using this system.

"We're focused on Culver's right now," said Pat.

Kevin Weasler is the owner of this restaurant.

"We had had a number of deaf and hard of hearing customers come into the store on a regular basis not a lot of them but a lot of the same ones they always came in," said Kevin W.

Since the system has been installed, it has made things better.

"I think it's very easy to use you know a good percentage of our business goes through the drive thru so it makes a lot of sense to me that we should make it as accessible as possible to everybody," said Kevin W.

Kevin Ryan is a happier customer.

"This is the first time I've been able to use this device to order. I punch the button, they gave me a piece of paper, write down what I want to order they write down how much the money will cost to order it and then it'll work out," said Kevin Ryan.

If you want to know about the order assist device, visit Inclusion Solutions | Home.

Inclusion Solutions
Inclusion Solutions | Home
866-232-5487 (toll free)

Freaky Cat · 09-18-2006, 06:00 PM

awesome!!! about time they did this for deaf people!! Hooray!!!

09-18-2006, 06:07 PM

Im Still waiting for McDonalds,Taco Bell and Burger King do the samething here.But Why cant congress pass a law that everyone must have a PAT system or pay a fine of $5000 a day for business doesnt install the system.Just like certain State laws make you install fire alarm smoke detectors in your home.Plus certain State laws make you install child safety seats in your car or the pigs give you a ticket.

**deafskeptic** · 09-19-2006, 08:53 AM

Let's hope one day they do that.

In the meantime, I've writtten orders on a piece of paper and handed it to them.

One cavet: I love burgers with BBQ sauce but when I order that, I always get chicken instead of burger. It's like there's a rule that BBQ sauce isn't supposed to go on burgers. I often have to tell the workers that NO, I do not want chicken, I want a burger!

I sure remember the time I came to a drive in with an order of burger and fries and coke. The guy could not read my order. He called the boss and the boss couldnt read it and he called his boss. You guessed it, he couldn't read it either.

I had to draw a burger and fries and a coke and I had to use sign to indcate the size I wanted.

09-19-2006, 08:58 AM

Hooray! Hope that other chains will follow.

I am tired of searching for bits of paper and pen to write my order on, only to have the cashier unable to read it. I realized that most fast food chain employees are not native English, thus they seem to have a hard time comphrending my written order.

Not only that but I wont have to deal with cars with impatient drivers behind me. I wont have to try to slide myself down to hide myself in my car when I see angry expressions on their faces on my rearview mirrors.

EDGE · 09-19-2006, 09:03 AM

What I need is... a device that allow me to type and press to turn text-to-voice the way the staff able to receive the order. Unfortunately, we wouldn't have no idea if they ask something else as we could miss. eek

**Foxrac** · 09-19-2006, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDGE

What I need is... a device that allow me to type and press to turn text-to-voice the way the staff able to receive the order. Unfortunately, we wouldn't have no idea if they ask something else as we could miss. eek

What's wrong with paper and pen? It was easier and simple.

**deafskeptic** · 09-19-2006, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemtun

Hooray! Hope that other chains will follow.

I am tired of searching for bits of paper and pen to write my order on, only to have the cashier unable to read it. I realized that most fast food chain employees are not native English, thus they seem to have a hard time comphrending my written order.

I know. When I had to draw my order, all 3 workers were native speakers of english. They weren't foreigners. It doesn't say much for our educational system.

Where I live now, fast food workers are a mix of latinos and natives. It's even worse with latinos than with the native speakers.

**Angel** · 09-19-2006, 03:45 PM

Awesome!!!! I hope and pray that the others will follow too, that's one of the greatest news lately!!!

Hope there's more good news coming soon!!

EDGE · 09-19-2006, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volcomskatz

What's wrong with paper and pen? It was easier and simple.

wow, can Drive-thru's speaker from board can read that paper??

**Foxrac** · 09-19-2006, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDGE

wow, can Drive-thru's speaker from board can read that paper??

No, Just give to employee that who work at drive thru.

Many deaf perople did that and most of them are sucessful.

09-19-2006, 04:56 PM

Heres what they should do.

Press on the Screen on your order.Press the items you want and how many and then when youre done press finish and it will show you how much you owe.

Freaky Cat · 09-20-2006, 11:02 AM

good idea, buck.. wish they have that at mcdonalds and other restaurants. it stuck!

sonic is worse.. cuz they still use voice .. UGH.. i hate it.. sometimes i cant hear cuz too many cars are around and idling?? its difficult to hear the speaker.. jeez..

hope one day they will get one like that.. then we deaf people will be very independent to order anytime we like to..

starrygaze · 09-20-2006, 11:22 AM

Arby has one in Casper, Wyoming. But one here did have but removed not fair! I want all fast food resturants' drive thru services. big problem i can't get order from Sonic through drive thru I was so mad and then left.

**Kalista** · 09-20-2006, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemtun

I am tired of searching for bits of paper and pen to write my order on, only to have the cashier unable to read it. I realized that most fast food chain employees are not native English, thus they seem to have a hard time comphrending my written order.

Just simple fliker your middle finger at the employees.

Quote:

Not only that but I wont have to deal with cars with impatient drivers behind me. I wont have to try to slide myself down to hide myself in my car when I see angry expressions on their faces on my rearview mirrors.

Step your car out and :madfawk: to them.

09-15-2006, 09:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 17,174 Blog Entries: 3	Drive-thru services now available for deaf and hard of hearing ABC7Chicago.com: Drive-thru services now available for deaf and hard of hearing Many businesses are expanding their operations with drive-thru services, but this is a challenge for customers who are deaf and hard of hearing. Now there is now a solution. Last year, several Culver's Restaurants installed a device that is giving deaf and hard of hearing customers a chance to order from their car window. The Culver's in Buffalo Grove is one of three restaurants that have installed order assist. It is designed to make drive-thru more efficient for both the operators, and deaf and hard of hearing customers. "What we've done is integrated with what they've already have," said Pat. Order assist was created by Patrick Hughes, president of Chicago-based inclusion solution. "The customer pulls up and simply rings the bell to let the staff that rings inside. The staff now knows that the person out here is struggling with the speaker and then they pull forward and then they are handed a pen, paper and a to go menu," said Pat. After filling out their order, the staff will prepare their food and off they go. The device costs $700. "It's a wired bell with an oversized touch pad and obviously the signage here is clear so that anyone can pull in and understand the system," said Pat. Culver's is the only drive-thru restaurant that is currently using this system. "We're focused on Culver's right now," said Pat. Kevin Weasler is the owner of this restaurant. "We had had a number of deaf and hard of hearing customers come into the store on a regular basis not a lot of them but a lot of the same ones they always came in," said Kevin W. Since the system has been installed, it has made things better. "I think it's very easy to use you know a good percentage of our business goes through the drive thru so it makes a lot of sense to me that we should make it as accessible as possible to everybody," said Kevin W. Kevin Ryan is a happier customer. "This is the first time I've been able to use this device to order. I punch the button, they gave me a piece of paper, write down what I want to order they write down how much the money will cost to order it and then it'll work out," said Kevin Ryan. If you want to know about the order assist device, visit Inclusion Solutions \| Home. Inclusion Solutions Inclusion Solutions \| Home 866-232-5487 (toll free) __________________ "Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light." - Helen Keller

09-18-2006, 06:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
Freaky Cat Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central ArKaNsAs Posts: 10,221	awesome!!! about time they did this for deaf people!! Hooray!!! __________________ When you miss me just look up to the night sky and remember, I'm like a star; sometimes you can't see me, but I'm always there! Freaky Cat's Blog

09-19-2006, 03:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
Angel ♥"Concrete Angel"♥ Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 19,089	Awesome!!!! I hope and pray that the others will follow too, that's one of the greatest news lately!!! Hope there's more good news coming soon!! __________________ "When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is brought in our life, OR in the life of another." ~ Helen Keller

09-20-2006, 11:02 AM	#13 (permalink)
Freaky Cat Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central ArKaNsAs Posts: 10,221	good idea, buck.. wish they have that at mcdonalds and other restaurants. it stuck! sonic is worse.. cuz they still use voice .. UGH.. i hate it.. sometimes i cant hear cuz too many cars are around and idling?? its difficult to hear the speaker.. jeez.. hope one day they will get one like that.. then we deaf people will be very independent to order anytime we like to.. __________________ When you miss me just look up to the night sky and remember, I'm like a star; sometimes you can't see me, but I'm always there! Freaky Cat's Blog

09-20-2006, 11:22 AM	#14 (permalink)
starrygaze Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Shinar (Sumer) Posts: 2,332	Arby has one in Casper, Wyoming. But one here did have but removed not fair! I want all fast food resturants' drive thru services. big problem i can't get order from Sonic through drive thru I was so mad and then left. __________________

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09-18-2006, 06:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
Buckdodgers Guest Posts: n/a	Im Still waiting for McDonalds,Taco Bell and Burger King do the samething here.But Why cant congress pass a law that everyone must have a PAT system or pay a fine of $5000 a day for business doesnt install the system.Just like certain State laws make you install fire alarm smoke detectors in your home.Plus certain State laws make you install child safety seats in your car or the pigs give you a ticket.

09-19-2006, 08:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
deafskeptic Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 14,512	Let's hope one day they do that. In the meantime, I've writtten orders on a piece of paper and handed it to them. One cavet: I love burgers with BBQ sauce but when I order that, I always get chicken instead of burger. It's like there's a rule that BBQ sauce isn't supposed to go on burgers. I often have to tell the workers that NO, I do not want chicken, I want a burger! I sure remember the time I came to a drive in with an order of burger and fries and coke. The guy could not read my order. He called the boss and the boss couldnt read it and he called his boss. You guessed it, he couldn't read it either. I had to draw a burger and fries and a coke and I had to use sign to indcate the size I wanted.

09-19-2006, 08:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
Gemtun Guest Posts: n/a	Hooray! Hope that other chains will follow. I am tired of searching for bits of paper and pen to write my order on, only to have the cashier unable to read it. I realized that most fast food chain employees are not native English, thus they seem to have a hard time comphrending my written order. Not only that but I wont have to deal with cars with impatient drivers behind me. I wont have to try to slide myself down to hide myself in my car when I see angry expressions on their faces on my rearview mirrors.

09-19-2006, 09:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
EDGE Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,010	What I need is... a device that allow me to type and press to turn text-to-voice the way the staff able to receive the order. Unfortunately, we wouldn't have no idea if they ask something else as we could miss. eek

09-19-2006, 04:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
Buckdodgers Guest Posts: n/a	Heres what they should do. Press on the Screen on your order.Press the items you want and how many and then when youre done press finish and it will show you how much you owe.

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