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From VOA Learning English, |
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this is the Health Report. |
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Almost 8 million Americans are deaf, |
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or have 'difficulty hearing'. |
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A food market in Washington makes a special effort |
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to serve the needs of deaf people in the local community. |
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Thadeus Suggs is a cook at Union Market. |
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He has no trouble taking an order from deaf customers. |
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Communication is easy, because the 23-year-old |
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is himself deaf and knows American Sign Language. |
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He began working at Union Market |
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soon after it opened last year. |
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He took a break from studying at Gallaudet University, |
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just across the street from the market. |
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Gallaudet is a university for deaf |
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and hard of hearing students. |
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It's programs are known around the world. |
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Mr Suggs explains, |
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with the help of Gallaudet interpreter Carolyn Ressler, |
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what he likes about his job at Union Market. |
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"One nice thing is it is so close to Gallaudet, |
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which by the way is the 'Deaf Mecca'. |
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And with that, we are providing services |
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to the Gallaudet community as well as the community at large." |
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Thadeus Suggs can read lips and speak with people as well. |
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His boss, Ross Mayhood, |
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says that makes Mr Suggs a valuable communicator. |
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"He is probably the most valuable member of our staff. |
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And he has been a big part of how popular |
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we are with the Gallaudet crew." |
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Mr Suggs is not alone, |
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about 10 percent of the employees at the market are deaf. |
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Another deaf employee, Alena Francis, says |
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dealing with some hearing customers can be difficult. |
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"When they find out that I am deaf, |
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it kind of throws them off a little bit. |
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And sometimes they will ignore me and just walk away." |
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Cary Barbin is a deaf customer at Union Market. |
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He explains through a interpreter what he likes about it. |
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"I love the fact that this is a sign language environment. |
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Many of the employees sign, |
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so I can order my food in American Sign Language." |
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The market's user-friendly design |
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also appeals to the deaf community. |
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Gallaudet planning director Hansel Bauman |
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urged the developer to build a 'deaf space', |
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a space design to meet the needs of Deaf people. |
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"In terms of visual language, |
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to be able to see one another |
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and communicate clearly while they are walking. |
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What that means is, |
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you're not looking at the path forward. |
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So you need a little bit more room." |
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Union Market has lots of light, |
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all the food sellers are in one big space, |
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and the walkways between them are wider |
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than you would find in many other stores. |
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Developer Steve Boyle says |
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those features also have a wider objective. |
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"The market itself really |
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was meant to be an anchor for the community." |
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And that's the Health Report from VOA Learning English. |
