Thai Government Creates Face Masks To Help Deaf People Communicate Easier During COVID-19

Transparents face masks for deaf people


Images adapted from: Spring News and Bangkok Post

Face masks are undeniably essential for everyone during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this protective gear has also become an obstacle in communication for hearing-impaired people because it prevents them from reading lip and facial movements.

https://thesmartlocal.com/indonesia/transparent-masks/

To fix this problem, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities has created a special mask with a transparent part in the front to show lip movements, which allows deaf people to read them.  

The masks are not only for the hearing-impaired, but also for people who must often communicate with them like relatives or interpreters.


Free for poor people


Image credit: Spring News

Miss Anira Thinon, deputy director-general of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, said that the department will give away the special masks to sign language interpreters and deaf people with lower income for free.

Some of the masks will also be put on sale – the price has not been announced yet. The production of these special face masks will start later this month.

This is great news for the deaf people community in Thailand.

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Eddie Jirayu: