Clear masks make lip reading possible for Delano first-grader
GABE LICHT
Editor
Delano first-grader Easton Erdmann has been deaf in one ear since he was born .
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the challenges he encounters due to his hearing loss .
“ I never really realized how much he relied on reading people ’ s lips until we did things on the computer and he couldn ’ t understand his teachers that well ,” his mother , Ashlie Erdmann said regarding distance learning .
A return to the classroom would bring with it another potential impediment to learning : masks .
“ It really changed things when he had to put a mask on , especially when working with other kids or teachers ,” Ashlie Erdmann said . “ ... Things get a little more jumbled , so he relies on looking at people .”
Anticipating the upcoming challenge , teacher Marissa Ekness and deaf and hard of hearing teacher Alicia Fergen brainstormed ways to help Easton .
“ She was wearing a clear mask ,” Ekness said . “ She said , ‘ These are pretty easy to make .’”
So the two made a poster asking if families would be willing to provide clear masks for their children .
Ekness thought maybe two or three students would have clear masks .
She soon learned that all the students would have
WALK-IN BATHTUB SALE ! SAVE $ 1,500
Lifetime Warranty ! Finance Options Available *
Limited Time Offer ! Call Today !
855-739-5528 Or visit : www . walkintubinfo . com / hjp
Walk-In Tubs
�EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST ! Only American Standard has OVER 140 years of experience and offers the Liberation Walk-In Bathtub .
�SUPERIOR DESIGN ! Ultra low easy entry and exit design , wide door , built-in safety bar and textured floor provides a safer bathing experience .
�PATENTED QUICK-DRAIN ® TECHNOLOGY
�LIFETIME WARRANTY ! The ONLY Lifetime Warranty on the bath AND installation , INCLUDING labor backed by American Standard .
�44 HYDROTHERAPY JETS ! More than any other tub we ’ ve seen .
FREE ! Savings Include an American Standard Right Height Toilet FREE ! ($ 500 Value )
FREE !
An In-Home Evaluation Will Be Scheduled At Your Earliest Convenience
Discount applied at time of purchase . Terms and Conditions Apply . * Subject to 3rd party credit approval . Minimum monthly payments required . Receive a free American Standard Cadet Toilet with full installation of a Liberation Walk-In Bath , Liberation Shower , or Deluxe Shower . Offer valid only while supplies last . Limit one per household . Must be first time purchaser . All offers subject to change prior to purchase . See www . AmericanStandardBathtubs . com for other restrictions and for licensing , warranty , and company information . * CSLB B982796 ; Suffolk NY : 5543IH ; NYC : HIC # 2022748-DCA . Safety Tubs Co . LLC does not sell in Nassau NY , Westchester NY , Putnam NY , Rockland NY . clear masks , thanks to a students ’ grandmother . That grandmother is Susan Engelmann , of Plato . Since she was a 10- or 11-year-old 4-H ’ er , she has been sewing everything from T-shirts and suits to bedspreads and curtains . When the pandemic hit , her focus shifted to masks . She estimates she has sewn 450 to 500 masks , plus surgical hats for the surgical unit at Glencoe Regional Health .
“ I ’ ve never charged for one mask ,” Engelmann said . “ If I can help keep people healthy and safe , it makes me feel good in my heart .”
That was certainly the case with this particular undertaking .
“ For this little boy , it must really help him ,” Engelmann said . “ He ’ s a lip reader . If you can ’ t hear and you can ’ t see anyone ’ s lips , it has to be horrible . I ’ m just happy it helps him .” Engelmann was in good position to help . “ I was at a point where I wasn ’ t committed to a big amount for anyone else ,” she said . “ I said I would take that on . It worked out well because I had a whole stash of fun kids prints . I wanted them to be fun for them , not boring . That worked out great .”
Ekness had provided pieces of vinyl , but Engelmann decided it would be better to use heavier vinyl that wouldn ’ t be so reflective . She happened to have a large piece of it hanging in her closet , as well as the needed supplies to make the masks adjustable .
“ It ’ s just worked out that I ’ ve had everything I ’ ve needed ,” Engelmann said . “ ... I believe God just works in his ways . He just always has a hand in everything . I had everything here . I didn ’ t have to buy one thing .”
She still had to figure out the best way to construct the masks .
“ I tried one pattern that had a seam in the middle . I didn ’ t like that . It took me too long ,” Engelmann said . “ I wanted it to fit across the kids ’ mouths so it wasn ’ t sagging down . I found the perfect pattern and it worked really well .”
Sewing clear masks takes about 10 minutes longer than making the traditional masks , Engelmann estimated . In total , it took her four days to make 21 kids ’ masks and two for Ekness . Her granddaughter was excited to try out the first one .
“ She wore it right away the next day to school ,” Engelmann said . “ I don ’ t know if she wanted to make sure this little boy could see her mouth or if she just wanted to show it off .”
Ashlie Erdmann said Easton did the same thing the first day he got his mask . “ He was so excited ,” she said . Ekness said most of the students just wear the masks as needed .
“ During phonics time , a lot of my kids will put their clear masks on ,” she said . “ ... They know if they ’ re working with him , they should put it on .”
Ekness herself can wear a face shield if she stays at least 6 feet away from the students .
“ I normally wear it during phonics time because that ’ s when everyone needs to read my lips ,” she said . “ All the teachers got a clear mask to start off the year , but none of the kids had a clear mask .”
She added that a face shield is not an option for students unless they have a note from a doctor . That makes having clear face masks more important .
Engelmann is already working on another set so the students can take them home to wash them more frequently .
“ It ’ s going to be awesome ,” Ekness said . “ She ’ s awesome . She kept telling me it was a small act of kindness . I said , ‘ This is not a small act . This is a huge act .’”
The Erdmanns were also moved by Engelmann ’ s kindness .
“ It brought tears to my eyes that someone would do this for Easton ,” Ashlie Erdmann said .
She believes the clear masks have helped him in more ways than one .
“ He doesn ’ t make friends well ,” she said . “ That someone would do this for him when he ’ s always struggled , it ’ s amazing . ... He can feel like a sense of normalcy because everyone else has it , too . He ’ s not the only one . He ’ s not different . For the other kiddos to participate and wear theirs , I feel like it gives him a sense of belonging .”
The Erdmanns made sure to express their appreciation .
“ I got the most wonderful card from the mother ,” Engelmann said . “ It made me cry . It said no one had ever done anything so nice for them . ... It kind of tore my heart out a little bit .”
The way everything has come together since that first orientation day when the request was first made has had a profound impact on the Erdmanns .
“ I have enjoyed being a part of this whole experience ,” Ashlie Erdmann said . “ It ’ s really humbling .”
6
Senior Connections Nov / Dec 2020
SeniorConnectionsHJ . COM