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

September 17, 2006 (WLS) -- 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 www.inclusionsolutions.com.

Inclusion Solutions
www.inclusionsolutions.com
866-232-5487 (toll free)

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