21 Y.O. Student Makes Face Masks For The Deaf And Hard Of Hearing
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Currently, the whole world is facing a serious shortage of essential medical supplies. The lack of masks has prompted people to simply make their own. However, college student Ashley Lawrence noticed that no one’s making masks for the deaf and hard of hearing community. As the numbers of coronavirus cases are rising, it’s important for people to have essential medical items, so Ashley decided to join the cause by making her own masks for those in need.
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After realizing there’s a shortage of masks suitable for deaf and hard of hearing this woman starts making them herself
Image credits: Ashley Lawrence
Ashley, who is currently in self-isolation, studies deaf education at Eastern Kentucky University. The 21-year-old student got a new project idea after she realized that the supply of masks suitable for people who are deaf is very limited.
Image credits: Ashley Lawrence
Image credits: Ashley Lawrence
“I just saw that people were making masks on Facebook for everyone to have instead of the throwaway masks, and I was like, what about the deaf and hard of hearing population?” she told Lex 18.
Image credits: Ashley Lawrence
After asking her mom for help, they both started making masks that feature a plastic window right where the person’s mouth is. Apparently, for those who use American sign language and lip-reading as a way of communication, being able to see a person’s lips is crucial. “I don’t know if you have seen Virginia Moore on Andy Beshear’s things at five o’clock, but she’s very emotive, and if half of that is gone because you’re wearing a mask then half of what you’re saying is being missed, so even if it’s not physically talking and just using ASL, then you need to have that kind of access,” she said.
Image credits: Ashley Lawrence
Ashley posted her creation on Facebook and soon it was proved how much of a demand these sorts of masks have. Her post gathered attention from the media and quite a few orders from people across the US. For now, the woman is making as many of them as she is capable and sending them out to people for free. However, as the demand rises, she is planning to give away free patterns and tutorials so people can make their own. To keep her cause going, she created a GoFundMe campaign so people can help her pay for the supplies.
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Nice idea, but Unless it adheres to the fornal standards it could cause a false feelinng of security, it doesnt seem to be tight-fitiing, thus virus will get past it easily
She needs to put like bra wire in the border of the mask spo it can become a nice form fit and will hold its shape.
Thank you. Sometimes reading comments are worth it. Innovation and refinement requires everybody on board working towards the same goal, to better society and make our lives easier.
Any of the masks that are being used are only 20% effective, they reported in the news recently. And people are even being advised to use makeshift masks like a bandana etc so that the frontline health workers have access to enough of the surgical masks. Therefore in terms of disposable masks, this will be just as effective as any other. And in terms of being INCLUSIVE and caring for those who depend on lip reading to communicate, this is spectacular and full of compassion. Just love that it is meeting a need that those of us who hear perfectly, had not even thought of. Bravo!
Thank you for saying this, there are no masks effective more than 40%, only the hazmat suit is perfect.
The plastic itself will pose a problem too. First of all breathing will be partly obstructed. The mask needs to actually make it ease to breath through the material. If there is not enough cloth material, it will find its way mostly around the mask. Also, the breath will condensate against the plastic after wearing this in different temperatures. The water will make the cloth wet and therefor it will lose its ability to filter anything. So it's an awesome idea, but it probably does need some adjustments.
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But it makes the libs feel good.
Libs? That's how they call deaf people now?
Hate to criticize such good intentions, but I forsee that window fogging up every 5 seconds, and then getting wiped off on the inside by hand. This scenario sounds even more contaminating than talking without a mask.
Unfortunately, that was my second take, too, after "How sweet, but..."
ASL is an expressive language so it very beneficial for me to see the mouth but for the small percentage of people who read lips it could be helpful. I am Hard of Hearing and know ASL.
Thank you , Ashley! :)
Nice idea, but Unless it adheres to the fornal standards it could cause a false feelinng of security, it doesnt seem to be tight-fitiing, thus virus will get past it easily
She needs to put like bra wire in the border of the mask spo it can become a nice form fit and will hold its shape.
Thank you. Sometimes reading comments are worth it. Innovation and refinement requires everybody on board working towards the same goal, to better society and make our lives easier.
Any of the masks that are being used are only 20% effective, they reported in the news recently. And people are even being advised to use makeshift masks like a bandana etc so that the frontline health workers have access to enough of the surgical masks. Therefore in terms of disposable masks, this will be just as effective as any other. And in terms of being INCLUSIVE and caring for those who depend on lip reading to communicate, this is spectacular and full of compassion. Just love that it is meeting a need that those of us who hear perfectly, had not even thought of. Bravo!
Thank you for saying this, there are no masks effective more than 40%, only the hazmat suit is perfect.
The plastic itself will pose a problem too. First of all breathing will be partly obstructed. The mask needs to actually make it ease to breath through the material. If there is not enough cloth material, it will find its way mostly around the mask. Also, the breath will condensate against the plastic after wearing this in different temperatures. The water will make the cloth wet and therefor it will lose its ability to filter anything. So it's an awesome idea, but it probably does need some adjustments.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
But it makes the libs feel good.
Libs? That's how they call deaf people now?
Hate to criticize such good intentions, but I forsee that window fogging up every 5 seconds, and then getting wiped off on the inside by hand. This scenario sounds even more contaminating than talking without a mask.
Unfortunately, that was my second take, too, after "How sweet, but..."
ASL is an expressive language so it very beneficial for me to see the mouth but for the small percentage of people who read lips it could be helpful. I am Hard of Hearing and know ASL.
Thank you , Ashley! :)