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Effects that Masks have on Students with Disabilities




COVID mandates make being in school difficult and frustrating for all students. For students receiving special education, being able to get involved in their schools and with their peers has been especially challenging.


Ms. Taylor LaSagna, the adapted PE teacher at Hardin Park Elementary said that the masks have limited the way her students can participate in activities they enjoy.


“Several students either cannot wear a mask or refuse to do so. Because of this, leaving their classroom becomes a risk for their own health as well as any students in the general population that may share an inclusion class with them,” said LaSagna.


Wearing a mask can be difficult for many of the students receiving extra services. Mrs. Priest, the Speech Therapist at Watauga High, said that some students cannot wear the masks altogether, for various reasons.


“The students in my self-contained classes, only about half of them are actually able to wear the masks,” said Priest. “Many of the students have autism and have sensory issues. They may not understand why it is being asked of them, or they just can’t because of their disability. They can’t regulate their body with that on. They either get obsessive about it, touching it, playing with it, or they just can't wear them at all.”


An additional problem with the masks is they may limit the ability of some students to communicate.


“They appear to get ‘stuck’ behind the mask making it less likely for them to communicate their needs,” said LaSagna.


Mr. Priest, one of the teachers in the OCS (occupational course of study) department of the High School said that it is harder for some of the students to get out there and be social with a mask on.


“I think one of the biggest effects, especially for the kids that were freshmen last year and are sophomores this year, with the mask on you can’t really get to see peoples faces. You can’t really get to know people,” said Priest. “There is a social aspect of it that I don’t think they connected as well.”


Another downfall of the masks is that they have also been a distraction in classrooms.


According to Ms. LaSagna, “The students were constantly fidgeting with it or taking it off all together. With the younger EC population more time was being spent managing this rather than learning or participating in activities.”


Although masks in the school setting have been different, it has not been detrimental to education.


“Eventually students did start to socialize and got back to doing the things they enjoyed,” said Mr. Priest.


While masks were strange at first for students with exceptionalities now it is just a normal part of being in school.


“I don't think the students really notice the mask anymore and if they do they just will take it off,” LaSagna said. “Students that I work with will comply, but when given the opportunity they would rather not wear them. I do not think they have been detrimental, but I do think that it has changed some of the priorities for teachers and students while at school.”



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