‘This just makes us so anxious, even more than we usually are’
MUM CALLS FOR KINDNESS AFTER PEOPLE EXEMPT FROM WEARING FACE COVERINGS ARE ABUSED
THE Government has been urged to do more to protect people exempt from wearing a face covering after a charity highlighted “horrific” cases of disabled people being abused.
Face coverings were mandatory in shops from Friday, with exclusions for people with physical or mental illnesses or disabilities.
Fazilet Hadi, a policy manager at Disability Rights UK, said she has already heard several stories of people being confronted on public transport – where masks have been mandatory since June – despite having legitimate reasons for not wearing one.
Ms Hadi said she fears further abuse as the use of face coverings becomes more widespread and has called on the government to run a campaign.
Single mum Angela Maughan, from Gateshead, was diagnosed with autism in 2016 while her son Kelvin, now nine, was diagnosed just before he turned three.
Autism causes developmental disorder characterised by difficulties with social interaction and communication – and the pair are exempt from wearing face masks.
After getting her diagnosis, Angela set up the Autie Mates help group in Felling, Gateshead, for adults living with autism and is studying a degree in counselling as she hopes to further help teenagers and adults with the condition.
Angela, 37, spoke out at the beginning of lockdown as she asked the general public to be kind to those with autism as sufferers find queuing at shops a stressful situation and could cause outbursts..
Now she agrees that the government should do more to help people with disabilities by making others aware of those who are exempt from wearing face masks.
She said: “Kelvin and I don’t have to wear face masks because we are both autistic and it causes anxiety but it makes me very anxious as I know people are looking and wondering why.
“Some organisations have produced a card you can print off the computer saying you are autistic to hang around your neck and are exempt from wearing a face mask.
“I don’t see why I should walk around with my medical record hanging from my neck. It makes us pretty anxious and just wanting to avoid the shops all together.
“I have spoken to other autistic people and this makes them feel embarrassed. They are frightened of confrontation as there will be people
out there who will shout or say things because we aren’t wearing a mask.
“We have social communication difficulties anyway and if people say something then that can be so traumatic they could need therapy.
“I agree the government should run a campaign telling the general public exactly who are exempt from wearing a mask.
“Not everyone goes onto the government website and looks at a list of people who don’t have to wear one. This just makes us so anxious, even more than we usually are.”
Ms Hadi called for a government advertising campaign to raise awareness of the exemptions.
She added: “I would love to see Government advertising... I am sure I am not going to. People really should not be confronting other people. We heard horrific stories from the disability hate crime network about disabled people who have already been challenged on public transport. We really urge the public to be kind and assume that the people around them are not wearing it for a reason.”
A report recently published by the Royal Society suggests even basic home-made face coverings can reduce transmission if enough people wear them when in public.
A Government spokesperson said “The guidance is absolutely clear that you do not need to wear a face covering if you have a legitimate reason not to, including because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability.
“We expect people to be sensitive to the fact that some groups of people are not able to wear a face covering, and will continue to communicate this message to the general public.”
The list of people who do not need to wear face coverings can be found at https://bit.ly/3hagomx.