Canadians Are Making Badges To Help Mask Wearers Be Deaf-Inclusive
“I am Deaf. I cannot lip-read through your mask. To communicate with me, please be patient and use your mobile phone or pen and paper.”
Those are the sentences printed on a badge many Deaf and hard-of-hearing people hope will make their lives easier, after a Vancouver woman’s offer to distribute the accessory went viral.
Musician Naomi Grace was moved to put her allyship into action after reading a social media post from a Deaf friend who was frustrated by the challenges of talking to people wearing masks and wondered if having a badge that stated her identity would help.
“I’m really grateful for her pointing this out because it helps me know where/how I can do better,” Grace wrote in a Facebook post. Her offer to mail out badges for anyone in need quickly racked up over 400 comments and countless private messages, leading Grace to open up a Google Form to make the process smoother.
Grace has also enlisted the help of friends in Toronto and Montreal to help meet the overwhelming need, with those made in Montreal available in French as well; Toronto volunteer Stephanie Duffy noted that she had 255 requests and counting for masks in her area.
Messages are from community members all over the world, many whom are asking for a badge and sharing their pandemic hurdles, or those faced by loved ones.
“My grandmum is Deaf and is anxious about getting out into the community again and not being able to lip read,” one Facebook user wrote.
“The struggle of explaining to people I have to read lips has been horrible and most people don’t remove their masks! THEY JUST KEEP TALKING,” another wrote, ending with well-deserved eyeroll emojis.
Grace told HuffPost Canada that her deeds can be done by anyone with means, as discount stores sell lanyard badge holders like the one she uses for cheap. She also encouraged fellow-hearing allies to download and print the badge’s templates.
“People who are in positions of privilege, it’s our responsibility to...
