As protective masks continue to sell out worldwide thanks to the novel coronavirus spread, one college student noticed a demographic left out of the equation.
Ashley Lawrence, a Deaf Education major at Eastern Kentucky University, knows that many in the deaf community rely on lip reading for comprehension.
The 21-year-old decided to design a mask just for them, featuring a transparent rectangle so the mouth is fully visible and protected, for those who read lips.
She’s now giving them away for free as part of her DHH Mask Project. “ASL is very big on facial expressions and it is part of the grammar.” She and her mom teamed up, putting their crafting skills to good use, and designed the reusable masks, which she intends on distributing free