Winter 2007

Mark Landreneau and Caryn Tenin display the Starbucks tumbler mug

Starbucks executives had the chance to play Santa this year with a special surprise gift to Lighthouse employees.

Over 300 tumbler mugs were donated as a special thank you gift to the Lighthouse for hosting a tour.  The mugs were distributed to all employees at the Lighthouse holiday lunch on December 14^th.

It was a Deaf-Blind employee’s request for the discontinued tumbler mug that inspired Starbuck’s executives’ generosity.

A group of Starbucks North Retail executives, including President Jim Alling, Senior Vice President of Partner Resources Margie Giuntini, and Diversity Director Eddie Pate toured the Lighthouse to educate themselves about accessibility.

“They were interested in learning more about access for people with disabilities, for potential Starbucks employees,” explains Mark Landreneau, government affairs specialist, who is Deaf-Blind due to Usher’s syndrome. “We were excited to host them, introduce them to people with disabilities, and demonstrate various examples of employment access.”

Mark conducted a whirlwind tour of the Lighthouse so that executives could get a wide sample of accommodations. “One hour was the time limit we were given, which was pretty tight,” he says. “We showed them the assistive technologies, how the machines had been adapted for blind workers, the machines and operation lines. They were astounded.”

While demonstrating the Video Relay Service, Caryn Tenin decided to place a call to Starbuck’s customer service regarding a discontinued item. The Video Relay Service allows Deaf, low-vision Deaf-Blind, and other American Sign Language users to make phone calls using video interpreters and a video camera. The ASL user signs to the ASL interpreter via a two-way camera, then the interpreter translates the ASL into English over the telephone.

“Caryn called Starbucks customer service using the Video Relay Service. She asked about a tumbler mug that had been discontinued,” Mark says. “Sure enough, customer service told her they no longer make them, but that they would forward her query to the product team.”

After the demonstration finished, Caryn explained her reason for calling Starbucks customer service line. “She explained that for people with disabilities who have to use their hands, whether to wheel a wheelchair or to sign, that it is nice to have those tumblers because they can clip onto your backpack or bag so your hands are free,” Mark recalls.

A few weeks later, the Starbucks team sent fifteen boxes of the tumbler mugs to the Lighthouse. “It was quite a surprise!” Mark smiles.

Our thanks to the Starbucks team for their support and advocacy for equal accessibility. 

*Interpreter’s Note: Mark Landreneau’s comments were translated from ASL to English by a Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf-certified interpreter.

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