Specially designed face masks for teachers are being made so that deaf students can lip-read what they are saying through a plastic see-through portion at the mouth area.
As schools reopen, about 300 such masks will be slowly distributed to 150 teachers and allied education staff from the Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf), Lighthouse School and Canossian School.
These masks will help deaf students who rely on lip-reading to complement sign language.
While transparent face shields can be used, recent Health Ministry guidelines indicate that face masks should be used instead of face shields in most situations, though both offer adequate basic protection.
Contributor Ms Chan Siang Choo, a senior director at an information technology firm, was approached by her friend Rebecca Teo, who had heard that SG Enable was looking for people to help.
The duo made about 50 masks, with Ms Chan using a sewing machine and Ms Teo doing the portions that require hand-stitching.
Local bag designer and sewing specialist Uyii is also involved in making the masks.
SG Enable head of partnerships Ivan Chin said that during the agency’s regular engagements with the deaf community, it found out about the challenge that could arise when everyone is required to wear masks in class.
Ms Barbara D’Cotta-Ang, head of the deaf education department at SADeaf, said the masks will help teachers communicate with students who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Read more here.
Source: The Straits Times, 30 May 2020