Two young women speak in sign language
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Cuisine & Culture

Austria's first sign language café opens in Linz

sign language cafe, gutmut linz

In spring, a unique café called "Gutmut" will open in Linz's Bischofstraße . What makes it special? It is the first sign language café in the whole of Austria. But "Gutmut" is not just a meeting place for coffee lovers, it is also a pioneering work integration project for people with hearing impairments.

The innovative café is an initiative of the Brothers of Mercy and has a dual purpose: it not only offers an inviting space for hearing-impaired guests, but also an opportunity for hearing-impaired people to professionalise themselves in the catering industry and later successfully enter the regular labour market.

A place of inclusion

The employees of the "Gutmut" have the opportunity to acquire expertise in the catering industry and gain practical experience. The aim is for them to be able to use their newly acquired skills to establish themselves on the labour market after successfully participating in the work integration project. A special feature of the café is that the service staff speak sign language. This not only creates a barrier-free environment for guests with hearing impairments, but also gives hearing guests the opportunity to learn sign language and gain a new perspective.

Diverse enjoyment experience

Curious passers-by can discover the finger alphabet on one of the café's windows before the opening in spring - a fun way to prepare for the opening. Of course, the "Gutmut" not only offers a special atmosphere, but also culinary delights. In addition to coffee, there will be a selection of cakes as well as regional vegetarian and vegan specialities, offering guests a varied culinary experience.

The "Gutmut" will not only be a place of enjoyment, but also a place of integration and togetherness. It shows that gastronomy is not just a question of flavour, but also of diversity and inclusion.

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Source: tips.at

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