Communicating with a mask. The social isolation of the deaf people

• salerni-malerba_qt-jetss_lug_2021.pdf

Abstract

The pandemic situation has changed many of our habits, especially in the communication and the relational fields, due to the so-called “social distancing”. The complex adaptation to the adopted prevention norms has been even more complicated for some categories, which have been further penalized by the situation: this is the case of deaf people who find themselves catapulted into a world in which their lips hid by a mask that prevents communication. Despite some local initiatives to promote transparent masks, there has been no concrete proposal at the national level. This paper offers a reflection on the communication approach with deaf people and on the resources and strategies to face this extraordinary situation and the possible scenarios that may emerge in the future, now that Italy has actually recognized the Italian Sign Language.

• #education
• #communication
• #deafness
• #pedagogy of emergency
• #sign language