To ask if parents/staff would be happy for DC/themselves to remove masks in this situation?

[MaskFace]

Firstly, I really do want honest answers, I won't be offended etc. I would like to hear the genuine views of whether parents would be happy with their DCs removing their masks (and possibly not being able to fully social distance) to communicate with my DC - and also how school staff feel about this too.

My DC is profoundly deaf (secondary mainstream school) and lip reads/signs as well as having a cochlear implant. In a world even without no masks or social distancing he struggles with lots of things anyway and has specialist support in school. Obviously he can't communicate with people wearing face masks if he can't hear them or see their lips. I know the support staff will be helping with learning aspects but it's going to still be really hard. I also fear he will miss out on so much "friendship stuff". When masks were mandatory on school transport here pre lockdown, he stopped getting the school bus and started walking to school by himself. (This breaks my heart a bit)

We have tried many many clear masks/visors etc (although the government school advice is "they should not be worn as an alternative" anyway ) and nothing has been useful enough (muffled sound/light reflecting/vapour etc) so I know people will try and suggest these in a helpful way but it's been exhausted - even making our own and ordering them in from overseas etc so this is not a solution.

So my question is would parents be comfortable with their DC removing their masks in breaks/lessons/on the way to school etc so they can communicate with DS, or do you think it's too risky to do that? (Also interested in school staff views). Or even if they keep their mask on they could be in a group of DC without them. Also social distancing can't always be fully adhered to as you need to be close enough to read lips/pick up sound.

I know the guidelines say masks can be removed for people to lip read etc. I know people will say "just insist they remove them" but I genuinely understand some people may not feel comfortable with the risk which is why I want people to be completely honest.

For full disclosure I am in the CEV category so understand people's fears ( I have had my first vaccination and hope others have too and I know CEV school staff will be working from home).

Please be honest. Also (of course!) especially interested to hear from deaf parents or parents of deaf DC with similar worries. Thank you.

It's also slightly ironic is that if you remove your mask to talk to DS he is more at risk than you (masks protect others etc...) and therefore increased risk of bringing it back to me! (Maybe I should have made it clearer that he would continue to wear a mask himself unless asked to remove it to help listener understand his speech). But I accept that risk to myself as I think it is reasonable.

I only wanted to know how people felt about removing their masks and people have kindly answered and I respect their opinions. But I don't like the opinion that DS should just be excluded from school altogether and find that hard to read tbh. I may step away for a little while as my day is turning out to be more stressful than anticipated (outside MN!) but will try and come back later and appreciate people giving their time to post replies.

Close friends and staff should get transparent masks. Not visors proper mask. I wear the working with hearing impaired. Will try and link

www.stevenagepackaging.co.uk/shop/product/131/clear-reusable-face-masks?{Ipurl}?ppc_keyword=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjZzO5J-Z7wIVpu_tCh2DPgoEEAQYAiABEgJUtPD_BwE

I also think school should provide at least some of these as a reasonable adjustment

Are you suggesting everyone around him to keep their masks off all day just to speak to him? It makes sense for someone to remove it and repeat what they said, then to put it back on. But not to keep it off for extended periods of time.

I am aware that it will hinder his conversation but the end is in sight now. Not everyone has been vaccinated, the parents of these children are likely to be the healthy under 40s which are the last vaccine priority group. It makes sense to keep COVID measures going for the next couple of months to ensure all restrictions are obsolete by June.

I will not have a problem with my CHD removing mask outside. I would prefer he kept mask on in school but just move it down if they were to communicate something to your son. My son and everyone at his school has been wearing mask in school since September. I would think Teachers would have to remove mask to give him instructions but then put it back on again. Maybe he could have written instructions.

I think I have seen face masks with a clear vinyl “window” which help with lip reading. Maybe his friends could get some if going maskless is an issue?

Your DS is exempt anyway so this is a non-issue.

Yup no question. I am happy for my kids to never wear masks. However I will get them wearing them to keep teachers safe. If they are asked to remove them for another child no issue.

Your DS is exempt anyway so this is a non-issue

The people around him are not exempt, however. It very much is an issue if everyone is to be kept as safe as possible. The OP recognises that.

Yes I would be happy. They are being tested in school which will hopefully keep the numbers down. Bearing in mind they will be taking them off at lunch and break times and I assume pe where it is very doubtful they will be social distancing. I would be happy for my dc to return without masks however we are not an at risk household. However they will follow the rules and be tested and wear masks.

There is a lady in a local shop who is hard of hearing and I remove my mask to talk to her.

Op, I really do feel for you, I’ve worked with deaf young people in the past

However your dc’s need to communicate doesn’t trump my child’s right to be in a safe environment

Both my DC are immune compromised in group 6, I’m actually CEV and almost certainly wouldn’t survive COVID and I’ve only had my first vaccine, DH is also CV

If one of the children not wearing a mask to aid communication is carrying covid then that puts my entire family at risk

DS has worn a mask since September voluntarily to protect me, your assumption about who a mask protects is incorrect, it protects both the wearer and the community, so him not wearing a mask increases HIS risk

He’s a kindly soul but has been mildly bullied already for being the only one wearing a mask, if you add social pressure because others don’t want to wear a mask to communicate then my vulnerable kid might take risks with his health and mine to fit in as he’s a compiler in real life

I have no problem with lowering masks to communicate but ultimately that doesn’t risk your child’s life whereas non mask wearing does risk my child’s

Masks don't offer much protection to the person wearing them, there effective because they stop the germs getting out to other people, not in. So the only person whose risk would significantly increase from this would be your DS, in this situation he's probably at more 'risk' from social isolation then from covid, so if you/ he are happy with the risk, I would be happy for my DC to remove a mask to talk to him.

Yes I'd be fine with DS removing his. DH is partially deaf and has the same issue re lip reading. Hope the school are supportive.

I would not mind at all. If your DC was a friend of mine, I would actively encourage them to do so, should it be allowed by school.

I can certainly see why those at increased risk would feel differently, but for my low risk immediate family, I wouldn't even considered it an issue.

Sorry MN was down for me for a while. Apologies if I've missed any posts. Some of the posts about extremely vulnerable people being at risk is confusing me though. Surely if teachers etc decide to go against government advice and go into work they can't expect DC to be excluded to protect them?

I understand people not wanting to shield (especially those of us on low incomes who would only get SSP and I have a real issue with the government there) but I don't think schools should be putting pressure on CEV staff to come in - that is definitely unreasonable.

It's also slightly ironic is that if you remove your mask to talk to DS he is more at risk than you (masks protect others etc...) and therefore increased risk of bringing it back to me! (Maybe I should have made it clearer that he would continue to wear a mask himself unless asked to remove it to help listener understand his speech). But I accept that risk to myself as I think it is reasonable.

I only wanted to know how people felt about removing their masks when communicating with my DS and people have kindly answered and I respect their opinions. But I don't like the opinion that DS should just be excluded from school altogether and find that hard to read tbh. I may step away for a little while as my day is turning out to be more stressful than anticipated (outside MN!) but will try and come back later and appreciate people giving their time to post replies.

One of my DD's teacher is apparently partially deaf and relies on lip reading (I had no idea!) it has been confirmed in her classes pupils will not be expected to wear masks however they can if they feel uncomfortable.

People are incorrect, the mask DOES offer protection for the wearer, I wore one professionally and make sure my child wears a 3 layer with a new fitted filter every day

I don’t want your child excluded but there is a lot of mask disinformation about, they offer all wearers protection and need to be worn in between communication

It really is sad for everyone, I will feel more relaxed when ds has finally been vaccinated which should be soon as a category 6

For those saying a clear mask is better - it's swings and roundabouts, as I said before.

A clear mask allows for better lip-reading (if it doesn't steam up), yes, but it means sound is more muffled. A blue disposable mask doesn't help with lip-reading but allows for better sound transmission.

Neither are great for d/Deaf pupils. Not wearing one is much more preferable.

And that goes for pupils who have a radio aid. You can't expect to wear a clear mask and have the same amount of sound reaching the transmitter. The pupil will still be at a disadvantage.

A radio aid or soundfield system is not a magical device; they have their limits, unfortunately.