Hunan restaurant employing disabled opens

A restaurant in Central China's Hunan province that employs 16 hearing and speaking-impaired servers officially opened its door on Jan 22, Xiaoxiang Morning Herald reported.

Named "Momowusheng", which literally means "my voice is silent," the restaurant initiated a first-of-its-kind business model that provides job opportunities for both deaf-mute workers and the able-bodied.

"They are not only colleagues, but also friends," said Zhou Wenying, chairman of Momo Dining Catering Co, Ltd.

Guests use service icons on the table, such as "Refill," "Napkins" and "Rice," along with pictures on the menu that appear next to each dish to place orders. Customers also are encouraged to communicate with the servers using sign language tutorials displayed on the wall.

Some of the workers are training to be chef here.

Zhou explained that disabled people are eager for equality. Her restaurant seeks to create a united workplace, rather than a fragmented one.

"With the 16 disabled servers working here, 16 households no longer need to worry whether their family members can find a job," Zhou said. "Many people have approached me to discuss creating more job opportunities in this way."

In 2018, Zhou's company is set to open chain restaurants in three other cities in Hunan province, in a bid to answer the need for employment opportunities for the hearing and speech-impaired.

Wang Xiaoyu contributed to this story.