MASK MANDATES AND SOCIAL Distancing; IT'S BEEN POUNDED INTO OUR MINDS AND FUTURE PLANS ESPECIALLY WHEN GETTING STUDENTS BACK THROUGH THE DOORS AND INTO SCHOOL
FOR THE BARBER NATIONAL INSTITUTE, THEY HAVE BEEN PLANNING FOR THE REOPEN SINCE MARCH. DOCTOR MAUREEN BARBER CAREY IS THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AT THE SCHOOL AND SAYS THE STUDENTS WERE UPSET WHEN THEY COULDN'T COME BACK.

"When that school bus didn't come that first Monday which was Monday March 16th, many of children were upset, many of them didn't know why they weren't going back to school," says Doctor Barber Carey. 

ONE OF THE SCHOOLS WITHIN THE INSTITUTE IS THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING PRESCHOOL HERE IN ERIE. DOCTOR BARBER CAREY SAYS THE CHILDREN IN THIS SCHOOL RELY NOT ONLY ON SIGNING BUT ON MOUTHING TOO.

"most often we see the use of total communication that would be either lip reading, using the signing and/or the language. so its usually not one of the other its a combination," says Dr. Barber Carey 

THAT'S WHY THEY'RE DITCHING THE MASKS.

"All of our staff will be having these face shields. As you can see as i put this up to my face you can see my mouth and my entire face. As with my mask a portion of my face is covered. it's best so they're able to see our face so they can really see what we're trying to communicate, the importance of what we're communicating and for children that are hearing impaired many of them maybe reading lips," says Dr. Barber Carey. 

Dr. Barber Carey mentioned that class sizes are small so students are able to social distance inside along with frequent hand washing and face coverings.