AIBU to ask about deaf DC and face coverings in school [edited by MNHQ at poster's request]

[CrazySheepYouAreTheOddOneOut]

Just interested to hear peoples' thoughts on this (everyone, not just parents of deaf DC)

I have DCs with different degrees of deafness and (also hearing DC). My DC who will be the most impacted by this is profoundly deaf and has a cochlear implant - and is in an exam year. (I do have other DC to worry about too but they are in different situations)

The school have already said they can ask staff to wear clear visors but I know some staff members would prefer masks (and totally understand this) and also the lighting makes it difficult for lip reading anyway, plus the sound is muffled. We have also tried clear face masks, including making our own but they have the same problems. DC does have specialise support in school so we will discuss it with them (there is a range of options like more BSL use, 1-2-1s with screens and no masks or extra tuition online - but there is no silver bullet to solve the problem).

I can see how the teaching aspects could be mitigated (although are still a huge concern) but I am also really worried about my DCs friendships. Already they miss out on so much "background" stuff and find it difficult to keep up in groups of friends. When masks were compulsory here on the school bus before full lockdown, my DC started walking to school on his own (which breaks my heart a little). Obviously texting and socialising online is great for him but they still need face to face interaction (also as preparation for RL!)

I understand why face masks are being required - after all DS is 1 child and there are over 1000 in school but he is my DC and I know it will be shit for him.

Are there any other parents in similar situations? Also interested to see if there are any parents whose DC are friends with DC and if they remove masks etc to communicate.
Also happy to answer any questions if anyone has any.

Fuck sake. The title was meant to be "AIBU to ask about Deaf DC and face coverings"! Have asked MNHQ if they can change it

I can imagine your typo

I can’t help at all I’m afraid, just bumping for you. Must be really tricky.

I have hearing issues and find masks an utter nightmare.

Also having mask straps, glasses and hearing aids behind my ears which are not huge.

It's really hard and I sympathise with your DC!

Could the teachers wear the face masks with the clear panel set into it? It's work like a normal face mask so covers the nose, etc.

I actually am not as inept as you seem to be implying mustard I just missed the word "deaf" out of the title altogether! 

@CoRhona it's awful isn't it. I have made DD some masks with ribbons that tie behind the head which are very comfortable but they're a faff to take off and on. It's bad enough DD can't have all the piercings she would like in her ears as she wears BTE aids!

We have tried quite a few different ones goodbye and I have even made some myself in various styles but the same issues remain with the muffling (and clouding up) and it's difficult to see lips.

I have no advice but I do sympathise. I'm learning BSL at the moment as months ago I did see a video from a deaf individual who said with the face masks atm they find it so hard to communicate. I can't even imagine how hard it is and lonely at times. Sorry for no help, I hope your DC can find a way to commnicate with friends

I interpret for Deaf children. I don't wear a mask, I just keep my distance. Exemptions are exemptions. The Deaf children hate people wearing masks and it would seriously affect their access to an education.

Well obviously there is an exemption to remove masks where they are otherwise legally required, in order to communicate with someone who can't with them on.

So his teachers and friends can remove them to do so (and that would seem like a reasonable adjustment to make in order to include him equally). Whether or not they will though, is another matter.

At our school, friends are permitted to carry a card saying they are exempt from wearing a mask as they assist a pupil with hearing difficulties. It means they have a buddy of sorts.

Well this is it, isn't it. There are exemptions to mask wearing for lip reading etc but given how people can be total twats to you when you do this, I can understand people not wanting to do it! Plus I understand and sympathise with their fears re transmission etc.

We do use BSL as a family so support staff can also use BSL with DCs but of course their friends can't do this.

@Doingitaloneandproud I did see quite a lot of people learning BSL last year when there was more time to do courses generally etc. I would love to see it more widely used, and offered as a MFL would be, as an option in school. As I learnt it as an adult (and only up to Level 2) I also rely on lip reading to help me and masks hinder it so much.

Also my DCs speech can be hard to understand and if they are wearing a mask it muffles it and makes it worse.

It's shit and there are no easy solutions!

@CrazySheepYouAreTheOddOneOut

Well this is it, isn't it. There are exemptions to mask wearing for lip reading etc but given how people can be total twats to you when you do this, I can understand people not wanting to do it! Plus I understand and sympathise with their fears re transmission etc.

We do use BSL as a family so support staff can also use BSL with DCs but of course their friends can't do this.

I am a BSL interpreter. I cannot wear a mask and do my job correctly. Clients request masks are removed in order to see my facial expressions. They also remove theirs.

I don't see the issue with this. If you cannot do your job correctly with a mask on, the mask needs to go. Keep a distance if it is a concern and wash hands as frequently as you think you need to.

I interpret for Deaf children and I would never jeopardise their education by insisting on wearing a mask. I think you need to be firm about your child's rights and the school need to put adjustments in place to deal with this; many schools are doing the same for their Deaf children in attendance.

@CrazySheepYouAreTheOddOneOut

I actually am not as inept as you seem to be implying mustard I just missed the word "deaf" out of the title altogether! 

@CoRhona it's awful isn't it. I have made DD some masks with ribbons that tie behind the head which are very comfortable but they're a faff to take off and on. It's bad enough DD can't have all the piercings she would like in her ears as she wears BTE aids!

Oh mustard my emojis disappeared from my post so that looks really arsey without the face I put in it! So sorry

@ifitpleasesandsparkles DCs school (and colleges) have actually been very helpful and have purchased clear visors for staff etc (and the specialist support staff, like posters here, are obviously OK with mask removals.)

But some teachers aren't, and as I am clinically extremely vulnerable myself, I do understand their reluctance. Although I would like to think as people get vaccinated, they will be more comfortable with this.

Also though, it's friends as well. At secondary you don't know your DCs' friends' parents the way you do in primary, but two friends have already said their parents won't allow them to remove their masks. Again, I understand but it makes me feel shit for my DCs.

Isn’t the deaf community extremely strong and supportive? What’s their thoughts?

Meaning - surely this situation is being discussed intensely and ideas etc being thrown around?

I support deaf students at my school, I won't be wearing a mask when I supoort them, we tried visors but they can be a pain as it makes it more difficult for the sound to reach their hearing aids or CIs.
But i will and currently do where a mask when working with other students or on corridors.

[quote CrazySheepYouAreTheOddOneOut]@Doingitaloneandproud I did see quite a lot of people learning BSL last year when there was more time to do courses generally etc. I would love to see it more widely used, and offered as a MFL would be, as an option in school. As I learnt it as an adult (and only up to Level 2) I also rely on lip reading to help me and masks hinder it so much.

Also my DCs speech can be hard to understand and if they are wearing a mask it muffles it and makes it worse.

It's shit and there are no easy solutions! [/quote]
I do think it should be as well, i think hearing is something taken for granted when you have it IMO, you forget how hard it must be when you're missing one of your senses.

May I ask did you study somewhere in particular? I brought the BSL online course but it does grade to assessments so to speak, you do mini assessments and a final exam but I'd like to progress further with it really.

I'm teaching my son at the same time, his favourite sign is I love mummy but he's learning it all with me just in case one day he knows someone hard of hearing.

I've been wondering about this as well. I have students who are hearing impaired in my classes. However I also have family in my household who are clinically vulnerable and not yet vaccinated. So I'm quite conflicted.
I remember using special microphones hung around the neck, back in the day. Is something similar an option?

I interpret for Deaf children and I would never jeopardise their education by insisting on wearing a mask. I think you need to be firm about your child's rights and the school need to put adjustments in place to deal with this; many schools are doing the same for their Deaf children in attendance.

Schools only need to put in place reasonable adjustments. Asking someone to risk their health is not reasonable. Asking for the health of vulnerable students to be put in place is not reasonable. Many classrooms do not allow space for distancing, and have inadequate ventilation.

OP, I understand your concerns and I don't have a good answer. There's a range of options here: www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/g33471599/best-clear-face-masks/

Some of them are a bit different to traditional masks and might work better? But they are also quite expensive in some cases- but might be worth a try?

I have a HoH student in my tutor group, and I am worried about her on our return to school. I'm not sure what the answer is, but I'm hoping I might be able to find a mask that will work for her. Unfortunately, I also teach some students with significant health vulnerabilities, so I don't think going without a mask is an option.

@Chewingle I don't really want to speak for the deaf community as I am the parent to a deaf child, plus there will be a range of opinions, not one viewpoint for all. This is the position paper for the NDCS (National Deaf Children's Society) but I imagine it will be updated in light of the recent changes.

https://www.ndcs.org.uk/media/6209/face-covering-in-education-position-paper.pdf

@Doingitaloneandproud I studied at local colleges (different ones for 1 and 2) back in the day when the awarding body was CACDP not Signature. (And level 2 cost a lot to do!) I imagine courses are different due to CV but the Signature website used to list providers. (I still sign I love you to all my DC at night but they're old enough just to grunt at me now instead of sign back )

Enemy you may be thinking of radio aids? They are still about but tend to be much smaller, in fact my
DSs CI and some hearing aids are Bluetooth enabled so they stream straight from their phones etc. The development of technology in the last 20 years has been amazing eg there are speech to text apps (but can be a bit unreliable, like subtitles on live TV!) But the last year has shown how important face to face communication still is despite all the technology!

I am severely deaf with BTE aids. Its challenging nd I have a small badge on my main mask saying "I lip-read". My friends usually step back to a safe distance and then remove their mask. However, that's not much use in group situations, especially in the playground where everyone is making a racket and moving around. I am also experimenting with a mask clip that loops them at the back of the head, avoiding the ears.

I enjoy BSL, but I find sign-supported English the way to go with a lot of my hearing friends as I can teach them a handful of signs very quickly. Just using the alphabet to pick our the first and last name initials can be a big help! Is that something your child's friends would be willing to do?

Putting a badge on your mask is such a good idea @TheABC. One of my DDs wears a "please be patient, I can't read your lips" badge for work (you would not believe the amount of abuse she gets for not hearing or understanding customers) but it's on her top - I shall suggest moving it to her!

DSs friends are mostly lovely but they're the kind of group who use the wanker sign a lot, and that's the extent of their signing They have grown accustomed to automatically touching his shoulder to get his attention and making sure he can see them so perhaps the ones that are comfortable with it will remove their masks to talk to him. I just have visions of a parent giving the school (or my DS) grief over it...

It's just a circle that can't be squared I guess and we just have to do the best we can

My DD (13) is registered blind (she has just about 10 per cent sight and no peripheral vision) and so, after weeks of experiments with various types of face coverings, all of which fogged up her specialist glasses, I consulted the RNIB who wrote a letter to her secondary school explaining how detrimental wearing a mask was to her classroom and learning experience. We’re in no way mask refuseniks as a family but surely common sense has to prevail and disabled children must still be protected by equality legislation?

Have you been in touch with the RNID to seek their advice and help?