On the 27th, it was learned that Unicharm, the largest manufacturer of masks in Japan, will release a mask made of transparent material so that the mouth can be seen from the outside. The masks are designed for hearing-impaired people who can read the contents of a message by watching the movement of the mouth.
As the new coronavirus spreads, a group of people concerned in Nagoya city, say “We have collected the real voices of people with hearing disabilities in the coronavirus disaster.” Wearing masks and other measures to prevent infection seem to be detrimental to the communication of deaf and deaf-blind people, who read words from the movement of their mouths and the shape of their fingers.
“As hearing-impaired individuals and their interpreters express and comprehend meanings through facial expressions as well as movements of the hands and mouth, masks covering most of the face make communication difficult.”
In addition to arranging sign language interpreters, the settlement included training for supervisors for mutual understanding with the hearing impaired and conducting sign language training for employees.
In response to the spread of the new coronavirus, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has opened a fax consultation service (03.3595.2756) to accept consultations from people who have difficulty hearing or hearing.
Barrier Free Japan