Would PDA be covered by the exemption for face coverings ?

[765orangea]

Just wondering this ? As dd cannot be told what to do and will not wear one ?
Would she actually come under the exemption criteria ?

Would expect so:

“not being able to put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
if putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress”

I would say it definitely is.

Yes, as her condition makes it difficult to wear a mask.

Am I right in thinking PDA is part of/linked to the autism spectrum? I thought autism had been specifically mentioned in the exemption info.
I’d expect her to be exempt regardless but it might be easier to argue it (if necessary) if so.

Literally anyone can claim an exemption.

No one will fine you, but shops can absolutely decide not to let you in. You are less likely to have an issue in the larger shops/supermarkets.

How old is she? Kids under 11 are exempt anyway

Most areas class it under the autistic spectrum.

My Ds started off refusing. We have put the control back into his hands (Which is a big part of PDA) by telling him that it’s fine not to wear one but he will be unable to catch the bus to college in September or go to the local shop for junk food. He’s had time to get used to the idea and is perfectly happy to wear a mask.

He is 16 though and is at a much greater risk of shops/buses refusing a 16 year old lad than a sweet looking 11 year old girl accompanied by a parent.

Yes asd too but it’s not a sensory issue it’s more the pda not being able to be told it causes huge distress

18

I completely accept this is a diagnosed problem. But how do you approach other ‘laws’ if she will not be told what to do? How do you ensure she wears a seatbelt? Sits down on a plane? Queues in shop? Can’t you use some of those techniques that you’ve needed to employ to keep her safe until now?

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat

I completely accept this is a diagnosed problem. But how do you approach other ‘laws’ if she will not be told what to do? How do you ensure she wears a seatbelt? Sits down on a plane? Queues in shop? Can’t you use some of those techniques that you’ve needed to employ to keep her safe until now?

This is what I was wondering?

The advice we were given is that young people with PDA have to have control by giving choice and re-wording things and learn consequences and that some rules are not negotiable.

So the consequence of not wearing a seatbelt is they have to walk etc. Instead of saying you have to wear a mask you say, which mask do you want to wear to go to the shop?

(Sorry if this is stuff you already know)

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat

I completely accept this is a diagnosed problem. But how do you approach other ‘laws’ if she will not be told what to do? How do you ensure she wears a seatbelt? Sits down on a plane? Queues in shop? Can’t you use some of those techniques that you’ve needed to employ to keep her safe until now?

Those things are not anything like mask wearing. Presumably a seat belt has been used since birth, typical social rules have been followed for years. Masks are a relatively new thing and this makes it harder to adapt to.

To answer OP, yes she would be exempt but shops have the right to refuse entry regardless

I would say this would be classed as an exemption.

PDA is widely acknowledged as being part of the autism spectrum.

Also, the distress caused by being required to wear a mask is also covered by exemptions.

My Ds was desperate to get his hair cut. I booked an appointment and offered Ds the chance to come too. I said to him the hairdresser was not allowing anyone to enter the salon or have their hair cut unless they wore a mask. So it became a choice, not a demand. Had he decided against the mask, his hair would not have been cut.

It’s hard as things like the seatbelt she had since tiny it was just put on she wasn’t ever told as such so it’s routine but I dare say of I ever said to her to put it on she then wouldn’t of that makes sense ?

With masks I tried the ‘here’s the masks I got for us I’ll pop them here by the door for when we go out’ but then she’s read things online about it being compulsory so won’t
If I go to the shops I’m going to try the ‘you’re welcome to come just make the choice if you don’t want a mask then you’re ok to stay at home’ kind of thing
Or part of me wants to try ‘I agree with you. DONT wear a mask’ on the off chance me telling her what to do is the opposite of official advice who knows
We have these issues daily over absolutely everything I have to think before I say anything to try and avoid distress it’s very hard

It is hard. And it's not not to forget that they are not being wilful, it is literally an adrenaline rush so powerful it disables them from doing the thing being demanded.

Has she had intervention to help her to learn coping strategies for the distressed feelings she has in response to demands, rather than coping by avoiding demands?

She can get exemption if she really can't wear one and for transport purposes download a card from tfl or given. Uk website. I would personally leave this to her. If she wants to enter shops and doesn't have a mask she might get turned away . She can take that risk or practice with the mask and wear one which would be the preferred option for the public at large.

My PDAer knows she's exempt but thinks having to explain why she's exempt or deal with other people looking at her or potentially challenge her unexpectedly is worse than wearing one

She's made the decision that she'd rather have a cloth mask with soft bands around her ears rather than elastic -and we are good to go

She's 19 and in the last 18 months or so has realised that now she looks like an adult she is having to deal with a whole host of societal expectations that I can't shield her from -this has actually made life easier because I'm not having to be so careful about how I phrase things with her