July 24, 2020

#ADA30: It's time to get cooking!

We're celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), groundbreaking legislation that has inspired exchange alumni the world over! Two such alumni include Faizan Raza and his brother, Jawad, of Pakistan, who had an opportunity to visit the U.S. as exchange participants of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).

In their family of five, only Faizan's sister, Ayesha, can hear; Faizan, Jawad, and their parents all have degrees of hearing impediments. Faizan, who was in and out of school growing up, due to his hearing disability, set up his own food cart business, Abey KHAO, in 2016, with help from his sister. "A guide on how to communicate and place the order using the sign language was pasted with the menu," and it became a surprise success! However, as noted by DICE Fellowship Pakistan, government policies led to the shutdown of Abey Khao.  

Faizan and Jawad's IVLP turned that all around. During their exchange, the brothers got a chance to interact with multiple businesses run by deaf people and see ADA legislation in action in the U.S.

Abey KHAO is now a successful deaf-friendly restaurant in Pakistan where anyone can place orders using sign language. Through Abey KHAO, Faizan and his brother are bridging the gap between the deaf and hearing communities. 

Now, Faizan teaches us how to make Chicken Karahi at home, in this video. Ready to get cooking?