Coronavirus masks for deaf and hard of hearing community1 min read

Ashley Lawrence, a senior studying Education for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at Eastern Kentucky University, thought to modify the classic masks to be able to wear them to those who need to read the lip. The girl launched a fundraiser on the GoFundMe platform. The proceeds will go to an association that helps parents of deaf children.

Ashley’s deaf masks are snapping up. In a few days, there were orders from over six states in the US.

The deaf and hard of hearing need masks with plastic inserts that allow them to see more of each other’s faces.

Considering the emergency situation and the need, Lawrence decided to start producing them herself, along with some help from her mom. They’re using bedsheets, clear plastic sheeting, and elastic to create reusable masks for the deaf and hard of hearing.

The communication problem facing the deaf and hard of hearing community has also been raised in other parts of the world. In recent days, other institutes have asked, in fact, to develop protective devices designed in such a way as to allow the reading of the lip.

This brings up another problem: the communication gap and the need for someone capable of speaking sign language in each hospital.

Actually, it is not the first time that deaf people, who go to the emergency room, remain completely isolated from communication because, rightly for health purposes, operators must speak with the mask, but deaf people understand for the most part also from the lip.

Source: GoFundMe