Silent café opens at Duke Kunshan to support workers with disabilities

Duke Kunshan University

14th May 2025

Silent café opens at Duke Kunshan to support workers with disabilities

A coffee shop staffed entirely by people with disabilities has opened at the Academic Building at Duke Kunshan University, offering students, faculty and staff a quiet space for coffee — and reflection — on inclusion and accessibility.

The café, operated by Never Mind, a Shanghai-based company that provides jobs for people with disabilities, uses a “silent service” model. Baristas communicate with customers through sign language, smart glasses and visual signage. All employees are hearing- or speech-impaired.

https://news.dukekunshan.edu.cn/#campusnews