Making Hospitality Accessible at Café Qabil: Inclusion for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Customers

My feature for The Friday Times (Features, 22 September 2026) looks at Café Qabil in Lahore, a social enterprise that trains and employs people with disabilities.

The café gets physical accessibility right: an entrance ramp, wide pathways, tactile floor guidance, accessible counters and restrooms, bright lighting and moderate background music. The question I asked was whether that also makes it accessible to Deaf and hard-of-hearing customers.

What works. A highly visual menu, orders taken at the table, food brought to the table instead of names being called out, and staff who adapt when customers type or write their order. Deaf trainees also learn barista skills with sign-language interpreters.

What is missing. Communication still relies on a paper notepad or the customer’s own phone, there is little visual wayfinding, and, most importantly, there is no visual emergency alarm. I suggest four practical fixes: QR or tablet ordering, clearly marked writing boards, visual signage, and flashing lights linked to the fire alarm.

As published in The Friday Times, Features, 22 September 2026. Select to read the full article on thefridaytimes.com.

Related: Awaaz Do, the initiative I founded to help cafés become more accessible, and my opinion piece Accessibility Should Be on the Menu.