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By Jamie Berke, About.com Guide to Deafness since 1997

Deaf Chef Proves Discrimination

Friday August 4, 2006
It is not often that I get "success story" e-mails like this one, reprinted below without any editing:
Very often, when top Excutive chef or Excutive Pastry Chef take over business as usely in Culinary world. Sous Chef helping new boss of the Kicthen(s)to meet current down the lines as Prep-Line, Banquet cooks, Pantry helper, Pastry Cook or Night cook and etc,.. Sous chef explain new Boss about my deafness.. I never forgot thier rude remarks and dirty face look at me.. I ask him nicely, " Why you give the looks ?" He was speechless that , I able to readlips and pretty well spoken.

after few months. He starting to turn nasty remarks about " Deaf and Dumb " He said deaf should not allowed work in resturant. because , He thinks I missed work orders. and not coummucation with others... I work hard and great coummcuation make sure I understood others that is my part of responsbilties as my job duty.

One day, He order me go home early due of budget cuts. I told him about cookies in the oven before I go home... while , I am on way home. He forgot about cookies on puropsed.

Next day, He keeps very burned 200 cookies with sheet pans. He wait for me into start work. and front of General Mangers of the Hotel. He blames me not responsabilties about unfinish project... I was keep under control... I asked what time does, He took out the cookies off the oven ? He said 3:15 pm.... I was laugh so hard . Every one were puzzled why I laughs. I told every one to fellow my butt. I took out my clock-out ticket what time I was leave at 2:15 pm.

I told Him that I obey his order me leave at 2:15pm and I wrote a noted gave him that watch for cookies after , I left.

The General Manger realized that this Excutive Chef try to frame me for unprofessionalism. resulted he got axed without questions !

They are try to advanaged of my deafness in many times in my 20 years experinces.

Very few chef who knows about deafness.. due of thier realives had deaf.

I would say about 92% Top Mangernment level don't know much about deaf needs in daily basied work .

***

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Comments

August 31, 2006 at 5:43 pm
(1) daniel says:

that good one i will print it out show deaf can do anything that myy dream to be chef i don’t think other epeople will hear about “deaf: unless you told tale about it i am qutie impress with it !

April 13, 2008 at 7:28 pm
(2) jon says:

Ha. It happened to me on many occasions.

The best place for any deaf person who would like to achieve the culinary field is in the HOTELS not restaurants because HOTELS have more support and more understanding while restaurant will fire FAST. I worked in both hotels and restaurants and I find my experience much better in Hotel industry because of the professional human resource office support and corporate understanding of deaf while restaurants nothing.

I worked my way up in the industry for atleast 20 years and became exec chef of a hotel then I said enough is enough and left the industry..

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