The other day, Natasha Scruggs, an attorney herself, posted on Twitter: “A Missouri public school district sent this ‘liability waiver’ for parents if their child gets sickness/death resulting from being in school. Thoughts?” Scruggs also included a picture of the liability waiver from the Hazelwood School District, which is available below, and we created a plain text version for DeafBlind readers. Do you have a child attending a school for the Deaf? Has the school for the Deaf sent you a similar form? Is there any discussion on what to do if the faculty, staff, or students have COVID-19 but they are not showing any symptoms? Contact us at deafveejournal@gmail.com or find us on Facebook to let us know.

— Waiver of Liability Form from the Hazelwood School District —

Parent Permission and Waiver of Liability for Student Participation in Hazelwood School District Athletics/Activities

By signing below, I give permission for my child, (blank space for the child’s name), to participate in the following program or activity on (blank space for month) / (blank space for day) / 2020 at the Hazelwood School District: (long blank line for the parent to put down the name of the program or activity). [Three paragraphs follow below in a split format. The paragraphs take up 3/4 of the width, with a blank space next to each paragraph for the parents to sign their initials, and the blank space for initials take up the other 1/4.]

(Blank space for initial signature) I acknowledge that federal and state government officials have declared that there currently exists a public health crisis in our country related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”).

(Blank space for initial signature) I confirm that I will not permit my child to participate in the program or activity if, at any time during the program or activity, my child is showing any symptoms of COVID-19 (including but not limited to fever, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain). Additionally, I confirm that I will not permit my child to participate in the program or activity if, at any time during the program or activity, my child has been in contact with any individual diagnosed with COVID-19 or any individual currently waiting for test results confirming the possibility of a COVID-19 diagnosis. I agree that in such situations my child will be unable to participate in the program or activity until: (i) 14 calendar days after the symptoms first appeared and my child is no longer showing any symptoms; or (ii) a healthcare provider has confirmed in writing that my child has tested negative for COVID-19 or that my child’s symptoms were not due to COVID-19.

(Blank space for initial signature) I understand that the Hazelwood School District cannot prevent the possible transmission or contraction of COVID-19 for my child.

The undersigned agrees to release, discharge, hold harmless and indemnify the Hazelwood School District, its agents, employees, officers, Board of Education members, insurers and others acting on the District’s behalf (the “Releasees”) of and from any and all claims, demands, causes of action and/or legal liabilities for injuries to or death of my child occurring during, or resulting from, participation in the above-mentioned program or activity and related in any way to COVID-19, even if the cause, damages, or injuries are alleged to be the fault or alleged to be caused by the negligence or carelessness of the Releasees.

Signature: (blank space for name signature) [Empty white space] Date: (blank space for date)
[Underneath the first Signature is a phrase in parentheses, saying “Parent or Legal Guardian”.]

Signature: (blank space for name signature) [Empty white space] Date: (blank space for date)
[Underneath the second Signature is a phrase in parentheses, saying “Student”.]