Face coverings and masks have become a part of our regular, everyday life and will be for the foreseeable future. College student Ashley Lawrence quickly realized that, while face masks are important in keeping everyone safe, they also pose a lot of challenges for the deaf and hard of hearing community who often rely on American Sign Language and lip-reading to communicate. Ashley decided she could do something to help keep people safe and help the deaf and hard of hearing community communicate at the same time.
The 21-year-old senior who is studying education for the deaf and hard of hearing at Eastern Kentucky University told LEX18 News that the need to wear masks could seriously impact those who relied on ASL and lip-reading. "I felt like there was a huge population that was being looked over," Lawrence told the news station. "We're all panicking right now and so a lot of people are just not being thought of. So, I felt like it was very important that, even at a time like this, people need to have that communication."
Ashley decided to put her sewing skills to work and create a mask that would allow the deaf and hard of hearing to still be able to see the wearer's mouth. She enlisted the help of her mother and together they created face masks with a clear window at the front.
"We started out making them with bedsheets that we had, and luckily bed sheets are big," Lawrence said. "So we have two or three sets so we're making them out of that. Then, a couple months ago we needed plastic fabric for something. And so we have a whole roll of that and the window is only this big so having a whole roll is very helpful so luckily we haven't needed any supplies yet."
The college student went on to explain that not only do many deaf and hard of hearing people rely on lipreading to communicate but she also explained how important facial expressions are for those who use American Sign Language. "ASL is very big on facial expressions and it is part of the grammar," she explained. Ashley, who doesn't charge for her masks, initially created a GoFundMe to help offset the costs of materials and shipping, although she is no longer accepting donations.
View post here
She has also posted a detailed tutorial online for anyone who would like to create their own masks. Her masks were so popular that she received dozens of orders in over six states in just two days and her incredible idea was even shared on John Krasinski's 'Some Good News' show. We love that this college student is doing so much to help those in need during this current health crisis, and she and her mother are not stopping with just these ingenious masks. "We're trying different things for people with cochlear implants and hearing aids if they can't wrap around the ears," Lawrence added. "We're making some that have around the head and around the neck."
If you would like to order a mask you can email Ashley at dhhmaskproject@gmail.com.